Wolf Eyes famously careened their way onto Sub Pop in the mid aughts, ushering in a year and a half wave of “What is Noise Music?” thinkpieces and overviews that eventually flooded the No Fun Fest with enough hipsters claiming to know which of the 2004’s 785 RRRecords was actually the greatest that the scene’s literally tens of fans began to look elsewhere for their fix. Wolf Eyes, late to jump off board, dumped the noise tag themselves and started touting themselves as “Trip Metal” a few years back. It shouldn’t be surprising then that a decade after the aftershocks of their Sub Pop signing, the band has weaseled their way onto a release on Jack White’s Third Man Records. And yet it is. What in God’s name is happening here? Trip Metal tag aside, the eclectic group has always prided themselves as being distinctly inapproachable. Vocals you can almost make out and that sound slightly like Big Black era Steve Albini? Discernible guitars and fast-paced drums? A tidy, concise three minute running time? Wolf Eyes takes liberties to throw some spatial squeals and atmospheric crunk atop the post-hardcore tune they’ve birthed here and maybe that’s just the cold allure the tune needs because it’s engaging, if well-oiled. Perhaps the most dissonant thing about it is that the group on the label is named “Wolf Eyes”. At least they didn’t try to huff out 12-bar blues. –TIMOTHY GABRIELE [6/10]
Few things in music make me happier these days than modern interpretations of the best characteristics of krautrock. Wolf Eyes’ new single locks itself into a tribal groove, develops a deceivingly simple riff pattern amidst so much dissonance, and with the detached, stoner vocals it all feels like part Fu Manchu and Can interpreted by these noise rock geniuses. — ADRIEN BEGRAND [7/10]