The Wolf

Although formed only a few years before the dawn of the third millennium, Örebro, Sweden's Wolf rekindled the sonic identity and raw energy of heavy metal's "classic" period, circa the New Wave of British Heavy Metal of 20 years before -- particularly the sounds of the mighty Iron Maiden. With his multi-tracked guitar heroics and air-raid siren-style voice leading the charge, frontman Niklas Olsson was perfectly suited for the task, but he also received unfaltering backup from sympathetic bassist Mikael Goding and drummer Daniel Bergkvist, as proven by the band's stunning year...