Act I: It Starts With a Bow
Roll back the theater drapes and immerse yourself into the first act of Wolver’s victorian rock opera. The remarkable travelling show from Sweden now presents “Act I: It Starts with a Bow”: Stories whispered by a messenger raven with a sound reminiscent of Royal Blood’s debut album, at times also evoking the bouncy riffs of The Black Keys. Certain moments of this theatrical performance might transport you to a steampunk universe.
The album includes the breakthrough single “101”, which earned Wolver a feature on Spotify’s Editorial playlist “All New Rock”. Songs like “Mad Man” introduce us to eternal figures like the crazy visionary and the fortune teller, serving as messengers of the band’s will to keep on rocking against all odds.
A variety of rock sounds is synthesized on this album: Complex song structures à la Queen (“Once a Puppet, Now a King”), sophisticated production possibly inspired by Muse (Ulti-poser), and even a subtle exploration of raw hard rock energy (“My Wife, the Witch”).
The first part of Wolver’s saga opens with their encounter with the population of Jovenia and the ensuing difficulties when challenging its power-greedy ruler. The idea of “conceptual album” goes beyond the music: The band’s literary and visually rich universe is illustrated by Daniel Nagy, assuming the form of artworks and serial narrations on social media. The format of the series is delivered in periodical issues, not unlike a Charles Dickens of the 21st century.
Wolver is composed of a peculiar trio: The Protagonist (lead vocals and guitar), The Brawler (drums), and The Charmer (guitar). An enigmatic gentleman with a particular fascination for sound alchemy, The Protagonist summons the horsepower of two performers by splitting his guitar signal into both bass and guitar amps.
The band’s rock opera was recorded at Leon Music Studios, where the sound of Swedish acts like Sparzanza and Mustasch has taken form. “Act I: It Starts with a Bow” will be released this fall.
Cover art by: Daniel Nagy