Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Wolverine – The Window Purpose – 2005 (re-release from 2001) – Earache

Track Listing 1) End 2) My Room 3) His Cold Touch (part 1 and 2) 4) ... 5) Leaving Yesterday 6) Towards Loss 7) The Storm Inside 8) Coma 9) Release 10) Post Life 11) Again!

Wolverine’s “The Window Purpose” is a re-release of their 2001 album with one bonus track – “Again!” – a re-recorded track from their first EP. Hailing from Sweden, these five guys managed to put together an album that won’t knock you off your feet but is bound to entertain and maybe even intrigue. Playing a brand of progressive metal a bit similar to, say, Into Eternity, Wolverine does a good job combining several different musical elements to create some great songs. There is also a lot of song variety, with acoustic guitars and piano (as opposed to a synthesized sound from the keyboard) are apparent in songs such as “His Could Touch” and “Post Life”. Here the progressive elements of the band really stand out.

Vocalist Stefan Zell’s voice sometimes seems a bit whiny, but when drummer Marcus Losbjer interjects some growls every now and then, it’s almost flawless. He also proves himself capable of playing some very fast blast beats, like during the chorus of “My Room”. Keyboardist Andreas Baglien has a few great moments; his best performance is probably on “Coma”, a song that contains a lot of synthesized effects. This song is my favorite – it combines all the different elements that the band uses very nicely. Guitarist Mikael Zell would seem average if you only listened to his electric guitar playing. But when it comes to his acoustic moments I’m sometimes reminded of another Swedish Mikael who’s just a tad more famous. On “…” his talents with the acoustic guitar shine. “…” is one of those short tracks with no vocals at all, sometimes typical of progressive metal bands like Wolverine, and it’s one of the best I’ve heard.

Overall, “The Window Purpose” is a very good album, but not something I would rush out to the store to buy. It has some stellar moments but sometimes things seem a bit dull, and it took me a little while to warm up to it. Fans of bands like Into Eternity, Opeth, and maybe even Pain of Salvation should give Wolverine a try.

Score: 7/10

www.wolverine-overdose.com

-Veritas 03.28.05