Leatherwolf
New World Asylum N.I.L.8. Records

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

Comments: Marketing comes in all shapes and sizes, and in this case, in the form of a “Leatherwolf.” Two years ago, with talented and screamy Wade Black at the vocal helm, Leatherwolf recorded World Asylum. Black left the band and original singer Michael Olivieri (who recorded their incredible hits like “Hideaway” and “The Calling) came back home, and with the lineup in place with most of the founding members, they decided to re-record World Asylum and call it New World Asylum. It’s a cool idea, and if you are a fan of Leatherwolf … it’s metal-coated treat to have them back.

In the 1980s, Leatherwolf ran with the Spinal Tap-ish idea of “if two guitars are good, wouldn’t three guitars be better!” Oliveri can play guitar as well as sing, and also in the pack is Geoff Gayer and Carey Howe to lead this three-pronged six-string attack.

New World Asylum begins anew with the scorching “I Am the Law.” Back are those harmony leads, the frantic riffs and screaming solos, just in the first 15 seconds. Olivieri’s voice has changed over the decades, of course, but he now owns more power and presence to his delivery, where it used to be somewhat breathy back in the day. Leatherwolf is a true metal band, like Judas Priest or Iced Earth; this isn’t mainstream pop metal by any means. They don’t even get as radio-friendly as “Hideway” on the entire CD.

“Behind the Gun” is the best track on the CD, and it’s easily one of the best songs of the year. The chorus, “Tell me father, just killed a man. He said he was your son, came to save us all,” is eerily melodic and begs to be sung along with. The solo is stunning and intricate, with blasting beats from drummer Dean Roberts, and this track alone makes it worth your money. As the song fades out, with dual guitar leads and the echoing chorus, you may find yourself hitting repeat a dozen or so times before getting to the next track.

The somewhat goofy song, “Dr. Wicked (Rx O.D.)” has Olivieri channeling Jizzy Pearl, turning up the grime, grit and sleaze in his voice to deliver edgy lyrics like, “Fang of the serpent, let the venom morphine run. Drown in an ocean of scorching demons.” While the song is a bit strange, the solos and leads definitely are some of the fastest and heaviest on the entire disk.

The only time Leatherwolf stops the howling is on the closing track, “Never Again.” Now, you’ll get slower, intricate guitar playing at the onset and sinister vocals. Of course, after one minute into the composition, a searing guitar lead takes the song to extreme levels again. The song adeptly changes tempos with a natural flow, and the lyrics are biting again, with lines like “Blood and thorns, crosses burning. Skull and bones, world stops turning.” Wicked stuff …

New World Asylum is better with Olivieri back in the band, without a doubt. Black was and is an awesome metal singer, but Leatherwolf just doesn’t sound like Leatherwolf without Olivieri. Leatherwolf took a chance, and their ROI on this marketing ploy should pay back in bloody clumps of raw meat, or, in growing CD sales. There’s a bad moon on the rise once again—thanks Leatherwolf.

www.leatherwolfmusic.com

Track Listing:
I Am the Law
King of the Ward
Behind the Gun
Live or Die
Disconnect
Dr. Wicked (Rx O.D.)
Institutions
Derailed
The Grail
Never Again

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4/10