Wolfmother - Victorious
- Written by Kenneth McMurtrie
Things have probably gone on too long as they are for Andrew Stockdale to start just releasing albums under his own name rather than the Wolfmother moniker (Keep Moving aside) but Victorious, in an extension of the numerous personnel changes the project has undergone, is just him with drafted in drummers etc. where required. The name's a brand though I suppose and fair weather fans might get confused. Best not to rock the boat.
Victorious certainly doesn't do that, although obviously it does rock. Straight off the bat ‘The Love That You Give’ continues where previous album New Crown left off with the signature, near-timeless riffing and pounding pace that you’d recognise anywhere as Wolfmother. After which it’s business as usual as one song follows another, sounding as if they could be from any period in the project’s existence. Which is fair enough & what you pay your money for.
That’s not to say though that there are no mis-steps amongst the ten songs of Victorious. Lyrically ‘Gypsy Caravan’ is utter codswallop. Clearly referring to gypsies of an H.E. Bates type rather than that of Tyson Fury it’s a step far too far into whimsy although the riffs persist. ‘Pretty Peggy’ is also a rather drippy, Bee Gees inspired piece of balladry. Think back to Extreme mooning around on that acoustic ‘More Than Words’ and you get the idea. Hideous.
Still, when it’s good Victorious sits comfortably alongside its forebears & will no doubt spawn a successful tour or two, garner the odd meaningless award & at least meet its sales projections so everyone involved can be happy they’ve created a decent piece of work. As it rocks to a close with the sludgy 'Eye Of The Beholder' you can help but feel there's plenty more where this came from.
