Since signing with Solid State in 2011, Wolves at the Gate has released some of the most consistent metalcore and post-hardcore over the last 14 years. When last we heard from the Ohio-based quintet, they were putting their spin on songs from the likes of Incubus, Twenty One Pilots, Billie Eilish and Jon Bellion with their cover album, Lost In Translation. It was a fun way for the band to both pay tribute to artists that have influenced them and treat listeners to a different side of the band. For some, however, the spiritually deep lyrics Wolves at the Gate has become known for was sorely missed as the anticipation for the true follow up to 2022's Eulogies began to build.

In early March, the band announced their sixth (if you don't count Lost In Translation) album, Wasteland, along with a long form music video for the single "Parasite." It was pretty clear from the outset that this would be a concept album. Fast forward a few more weeks and the band dropped another long form music video for the single "Death Clock." While I know this is supposed to be an album review, I feel that I must take a moment to applaud the band and the team responsible for these videos. The story follows a man named Jess in a dystopian wasteland, who is searching for someone at all costs. The videography, story and acting are all very well done and mesh together seamlessly with the band performance aspects of the video. They are well worth checking out, especially if you want to dive a little deeper into the concept story. Oh, and according to the actor who plays Jess, there 4 more videos still to come.

Back to "Parasite;" while this is a concept album, Steve Cobucci has done a great job of making the concept work as a metaphor while tackling temptation and lies that we all face from the enemy, "Listen to the devil speak. Filling my veins with what I seek And the venom tastes of your deceit." The chorus features one of the catchiest melodies we've heard from WATG since VxV.

On the flip side of that catchy chorus, we also have, perhaps, the heaviest Wolves at the Gate album yet. "LAW OF THE [Waste]LAND" features one of the heaviest riffs on the record. The lyrics match up well with the story we've seen in the first two music videos, but also could be inspired by the book of Judges, "Watch out – kill or be killed. Cus everybody does what's right in their own eyes. Back off – it's dog eat dog. When you're living in the dark Wasteland. Running for your life."

One of the things that I've always appreciated about Wolves at the Gate is that while they have their own distinct sound; every album still sounds different. On Eulogies, they pulled in some nu-metal (especially on "Peace That Starts the War"), and here on Wasteland, the band has added a healthy dose of electronic elements throughout the entire album. It does give the album a very different feel from anything else we've heard from them, and that might be off putting for some longtime fans. One minor complaint I have is that the intro/interlude tracks often have lyrics or a spoken dialogue of sorts that help set up or continue the narrative, but it can be very hard to hear/understand in the mix.

Overall, I really enjoy Wasteland, but it did take a number of listens for it to click for me. Don't be surprised if there's more to the story as the last line of album closer bids the Jess character, "Come out the wasteland into the Borderland."