Alpha Wolf is one of the most notable names in pissedcore right now, and I love them for it. With their sophomore full-length, they've put themselves firmly on the modern metalcore map, boasting an unmatched aggression and raw emotional capacity.
A Quiet Place to Die sees them refining their metalcore-hardcore sound to near perfection, with an undeniable essence of rage and a subtle edge of tastefulness. For a sound centred on intensity and impact, they've found many places to accentuate and enhance the ambience and build the soundscape outside of the moments.
They obviously have a knack for great moments, whether it's vocal deliveries, guitar riffs or drumming patterns. A lot of the record is infused with both groovy rhythms and sharp chugs, keeping you constantly switching between headbanging and bouncing.
They also know what they're doing with pissedcore for sure. Their use of dissonance is unforgiving, the vocals are downright pissed and the influences from beatdown and metalcore are evident. Effective tempo changes, chug patterns, drum pattern choices, vocal callouts and production work make for an extreme and relentless experience.
The topics they touch on are definitely quite personal and sensitive, primarily on mental illness, anger and hatred. Some of the more rage-centric songs definitely suit pissedcore with insinuations of murder or suicide, complemented with a plethora of edgy lyrics, but the more vulnerable and sorrowful picks on this record definitely have an emotional light to it. It's subtle but clear that the topic of love and loss is woven throughout the album as well, and with a genuine human-ness to it.
Alpha Wolf's second album is definitely quite a remarkable piece of modern metalcore, and is a lot more than just what's on the surface. I think it's definitely worth listening to to get a better sense of the modern metalcore landscape, but it's not something I come back to very often.
Rating: 7/10