Review WOLFSHEAD “Wolfshead”

Heavy metal from New Zealand is always worth a closer look, if only because the scene still carries a certain exotic appeal. Wolfshead hail from Auckland and have been one of the driving forces in the local metal scene since 2022.

With their self-titled debut, the band has now cleared its first major hurdle. The album features eight tracks, and it becomes clear right away that these guys have a strong connection to traditional heavy metal. The opener, “Tyranny & The Hunter,” starts with a brief acoustic intro before launching into a classic metal track steeped in the spirit of the NWOBHM.

The one drawback becomes apparent early on, though: the production is fairly basic. That may well have been a deliberate choice to give the record an old-school feel. It certainly achieves that goal, but a more powerful and detailed sound could have taken the material further.

Still, “Tyranny & The Hunter,” with its spoken-word passages, makes for an intriguing opening and leads into the faster “Ashes Fawn.” Here, Wolfshead move toward speed metal territory without losing sight of the traditional heavy metal elements that define their sound. “Cold Wings of Steel” keeps the pedal down as well, with a slightly atmospheric midsection providing a welcome change of pace before the band hits the gas again.

Toward the end of the album, Wolfshead also show that they are willing to stretch out. “Storm of the Beast” and “Pervade the Pyres” are both longer tracks, demonstrating that the band has the musicianship to make more ambitious arrangements work. The eight-minute closer is particularly interesting, with occasional Maiden-inspired touches and enough classic metal DNA running through it to make the band’s influences obvious.

At the same time, much of the album still sounds raw. On the plus side, that gives Wolfshead a certain punkish edge and keeps things from feeling overly polished. On the downside, it also takes away some of the impact. A stronger production job could have brought out more of what is already there.

Either way, the first step has been taken. Wolfshead have delivered a solid debut that shows clear potential, and it will be interesting to see where they take things from here.