Review THE WILDHEARTS “Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts”

The Wildhearts are the brainchild of former The Quireboys member Ginger and formed in 1989. The band started out as a powerful rock band and released a great debut album with “Earth Versus The Wildhearts”. What didn’t add to the band’s rise was an inconsistency, as many break-ups and hiatuses always demanded a restart.

The last new line-up was announced in 2024 when former bass player Jon Polle rejoined the band. With Ben Marsden and Pontus Snibb two new bandmembers could be welcomed too and with “Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts” a new album is waiting in the starting box, a somewhat unusual release.

The basis of Ginger and The Wildhearts is still some dirty rock’n’roll and the lead single “Failure is the Mother of Success” represents the roots of the band. Hard rock with an essence of punk vibes is what serves as the foundation. What comes unexpectedly are the shouts in the chorus, a metallic detail that Ginger added to the song, and the same goes for the shorter blastbeat part, which leads to an atmospheric section that couldn’t be predicted either.

In case you think that such a song is rather an exception, I have to tell you that the new album of The Wildhearts has a few more surprises to offer. The opener “Eventually” contains a rather modern vibe, and the hoarse way of singing reminds more of a modern metal band. The chorus, however, is pure hard rock and the fusion of the two sounds confusing. The modern aspect of The Wildhearts might also have something to do with the producers, as Jim Pinder and Carl Browen are known for working with bands like Sleep Token and Bullet For My Valentine.

Compared to this kind of songs, “Troubadour Moon” is a straight rock song, before the frantic “Fire in the Cheap Seat” represents a dark twist with industrial influences. One wonders why Ginger added these unusual twists, as they are confusing moments on the album. It may be the intention in the decade of distraction, but it also makes the album a fragmented release.

“Maintain Radio Silence” is anything but silent. It is a roaring hard rock song with a punk attitude and the contrast is named “Hurt People Hurt People”. The latter is a calmer moment on the album and a different twist that might lead to a tear in the eye.

“Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts” is a fusion of different genres and influences. All based on hard rock, The Wildhearts seem to be experimenting with their sound, which surprises and confuses. Expecting the unexpected seems to be the motto of this release and in a way that is what Ginger and The Wildhearts have stood for since their debut album.