"Sleepwalkers" by WolfSkin is a powerful album that captures the essence of metalcore and post-hardcore genres. The band takes influences from some of the biggest names in the genre, such as The Amity Affliction, Blessthefall, The Devil Wears Prada, and Underoath, and infuses their own unique sound into each track.
The album, released in 2017, is full of fast and progressive drumming, virtuosic guitar riffs, and a combination of clean and guttural vocals that create an appealing auditory experience. From the dark ambience of the opening track "Intro" to the acoustic bonus-track "Rest in Peace," the album takes the listener on a journey through a variety of emotions.
One of the standout tracks on the album is "Dreamcatcher," which is about reaching your goals in life and overcoming nightmares. This track is a continuation of the previous track "Sleepwalkers," which is about how nightmares can sometimes become reality. The two tracks work well together and showcase the band's ability to create a cohesive album.
Another notable track is "Hearts and Minds," which addresses the issue of hate and how younger generations are born into it due to what their previous generations have passed on to them. The track encourages listeners to leave those things behind and live a life of mental freedom by letting go of the constant manipulation of information that exacerbates this phenomenon in younger generations.
The album's instrumental interlude is a welcome break from the intense tracks and provides a moment of reflection before diving back into the music.
Overall, "Sleepwalkers" is a well-crafted album that showcases WolfSkin's talent and creativity. The combination of the metalcore and post-hardcore genres creates a unique sound that will appeal to fans of the genre, while the album's lyrics address a variety of topics that are understandable and provocative.
Track-by-track Review
"Intro" - The album begins with a very atmospheric and scary intro that sets the tone for the rest of the album.
"Faces" - The second track "Faces" is a high-energy song that combines technical instrumental and vocal elements to achieve a perfect symbiosis. The use of both clean and guttural vocals creates the necessary dynamism to make it perfect as the first track of the album. "Faces" is the first track of the album to contain explicit lyrics and deals with the idea that although we are all born in the same place, our different ways of acting and thinking can make us gods of our own inner universes. However, when that utopian vision of our own lives crumbles and there is nowhere else to go, the singer then wonders where you will be and what you will believe in. The song talks about losing faith and hope in a world where he only sees faces, but he knows that there are hidden intentions behind the skin. The singer searches for a sign to survive and is willing to pay the price with blood. In the end, he urges others to show their true face to the world and open their eyes to reality.
"Carpe Diem" - The song is a call to live in the present and not let time pass without making the most of it. The title of the song translates from Latin as "Seize the day", and this message is reflected in the lyrics. The guitar riffs contain technical elements that give the song a virtuoso feel. The drums contribute with their energy because they are very powerful and fast, just like in the first track, which makes the intense auditory experience continue in perfect sync with the lyrics.
The first verse establishes the idea that time waits for no one and that minutes can destroy the life one has built if action is not taken. The chorus repeats the idea of never giving up and fighting against the wind, despite the obstacles that may come along the way. The song also talks about the importance of taking responsibility for past decisions, and how these can continue to affect the present and the future. The line "You cannot run from your past, your choice will follow us" establishes this idea.
The verse "I'm not alive... I'm not alive... I'm dead inside" suggests that if one does not live fully in the present, life can feel empty and meaningless. The verse "But the answer was always inside me" shows that the solution to life's problems and concerns lies within oneself, and that the key to seizing the moment is taking action and doing what must be done to make life better. The song is a call to live fully in the present and not let worries and problems from the past or the future prevent us from enjoying life and doing something meaningful with it. It also suggests that it is important to take responsibility for past decisions and take action to make life better in the present.
"Sleepwalkers" - The song "Sleepwalkers" is about how nightmares can sometimes become reality. The combination of fast sections and atmospheric instrumental parts make it one of the band's most memorable songs.
"Sleepwalkers" seems to be talking about being trapped in a dream or nightmare and struggling to get out of it. The singer seems to have been experiencing this recurring dream and the fear he feels in his dream seeps into his everyday life. The chorus "Wake up to life! Open your eyes!" seems to be a call for the listener to wake up and escape their nightmare and fully live in reality. The lyrics also seem to speak of the frustration and desperation of feeling trapped in a difficult situation, as the narrator says he needs a reason to forget and find a way out of his current situation. The song is a constant call to fight against negative emotions and find the strength to move forward, which relates perfectly to the following track, "Dreamcatcher," which emphasizes this point.
"Dreamcatcher" - This song is a continuation of "Sleepwalkers" and talks about achieving your goals in life and overcoming those nightmares. The vocals are emotional and the instrumentals are intense.
The song talks about the importance of fighting for our dreams and protecting them from the fears and adversities that may arise in life. The main message is that we must believe in ourselves and have the strength to face our fears and move forward, because our dreams are the reason we live.
The chorus of the song urges the listener to fight for their life and not be a slave to fear and mediocrity. The lyrics also refer to the idea that life can be difficult, but it is never enough to give up on our dreams.
"Dream Catchers" are a metaphor to describe our ability to catch and protect our dreams.
The song is a call to action for people to not give up in the face of adversity, but to fight for their dreams and make them a reality. Additionally, the song encourages listeners to share their dreams with others and help them make their dreams come true as well.
Interlude" - The instrumental "Interlude" serves as a nice break from the otherwise intense album. Ambient noises create a sense of calm and reflection.
Tears on the Road - This song talks about the pain of losing someone you love, like a girlfriend or a broken relationship. The vocals are emotional and the instrumentals are dynamic.
"Hearts and Minds" - "Hearts and Minds" is a standout track that addresses the issue of hate and how the younger generations are victims of it due to certain vestiges inherited from their ancestors and the manipulation of information in the mass media. The vocals are powerful and the instrumentals are fast-paced.
The song talks about corruption and the corrupt system we live in, where people in positions of power only care about themselves and not the well-being of humanity as a whole. The lyrics describe how these people try to control our minds and deceive us with lies and empty promises.
The song also addresses the idea that the only thing we have left in this corrupt world is our heart and our humanity. The idea that humanity has failed is recurrent in the song, and it is mentioned that the world is coming to an end due to the sacrifices we have made in the name of money and war based on unfounded hatred instilled through indoctrination or "brainwashing" from others' resentments.
In the last part of the song, there is talk of the need to resist and fight against this corrupt and self-destructive system in order to change things and make the world a better place for everyone. "Hearts and Minds" is a call to resistance and a call to action to fight back.
Rest in Peace - The album ends with an acoustic track dedicated to people who have passed away and their loved ones. The dedication to the guitarist's father adds a personal touch to the album.
Overall, WolfSkin's "Sleepwalkers" is a solid album that showcases the band's talent and creativity. The combination of the metalcore and post-hardcore genres creates a unique sound that will appeal to fans of the genre. The lyrics address a variety of topics that are understandable and thought provoking, and the instrumentals are intense and dynamic.