You’ve got to hand it to Europe, they really put lots of effort into keeping that classic metal sound alive. In this case the metal hails from Denmark in the form of Wuthering Heights.
Wuthering Heights are by no means a new act. They originally formed in the early nineties, but did not release their first album, Within, until 1999. Despite many lineup changes over the years, the band pushed and now have their fifth album, Salt, to show for it.
It should come as no surprise that this album absolutely shreds. Instrumentally you get exactly what you expect in a classic metal release; soaring vocals, wailing guitars, fierce drumming. The star here is certainly Erik Ravn, the only founding member of Wuthering Heights that remains, on lead guitar and also the writer of all music and lyrics. Ravn’s guitar solos rock throughout Salt.
Over nine “maindensque” tracks Wuthering Heights certainly rocks you to the core, but Salt is not without its stereotypical metal corniness. The album has a seagoing nautical vibe going on that can be a bit much at times. Lyrically there are some noticeably awkward moments (“Abra-macabra, baby!), and you still get that dark medieval vibe that I think many of us wish metal would have left behind long ago.
Suffice it to say, instrumentally the album rocks, but Salt still struggles with some of the lingering characteristics that has hurt metal over the years. Classic metal lovers will still enjoy this release for the nostalgia it offers in a genre that doesn’t provide much in new releases, but most others will not share their enthusiasm.
Hot Tracks: Tears, The Field
Kevin Kozel- Sr. MuzikReviews.com Staff
June 5, 2010
