The Scandinavian band Wolf was founded in 1995, their debut named Wolf was released in 2000, and with The Black Flames the band made their fourth album. In addition to the previous cd, the line-up of the band has changed and Tobias Kellgren placed himself behind the drum kit. This man knows how to play the drums straight. The roots of the band are in the Scandinavian heavy metal scene of the 80’s and are mainly influenced by bands like Mercyful Fate (only musically, absolutely not the vocals), Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

Wolf combines these influences with new songs that sound very familiar but surely not hackneyed, in the contrary, the songs sound fresh and full of energy. I don’t like bands that imitate other bands, but Wolf knows how to write melodic heavy songs, based on the metal of the previous century, that keep your attention.

Nicklas Stahlvind has a typical metal voice that fits the songs very well. The guitar riffs and the rhythm section are rather straight, the solos are full of energy; all ingredients for great metal songs are present. The result is an album full of energy with ten great songs; sometimes full of Maiden riffs (‘The Bite’), Mercyful Fate clones (‘At the Graveyard’), and up-tempo songs (‘The Dead’, ‘Steeleinged Savage Reaper’). Favourite tracks are ‘At the Graveyard’ and ‘The Bite’.

I didn’t know that nowadays the past could still ignite that much energy. With the The Black Flame Wolf proves that this is very, very possible.