Wolf Jaw - 'The Heart Won't Listen'

(Listenable Records)

Cannock must be a hotbed for blues based hard rock at the moment as hot on the heels of Piston, who I reviewed last issue, here’s Wolf Jaw – although Cannock is the hometown of Classic Rocker Glenn Hughes, so this revelation shouldn’t be surprising!

Wolf Jaw create a blues based hard rock sound which is quite traditional, but with modern tweaks so the band don’t sound like Led Zeppelin jamming with Humble Pie while it been abundantly obvious the seventies hard rock sound has influenced their song writing. One of the first things I noticed playing through was the swagger and energy the songs portray and I really think these guys will kick some serious backside in the live arena, they certainly have the songs for it. Now these guys aren’t quite as commercial as I tend to favour, no real stand out choruses for example, but they should appeal strongly with traditional flavoured blues based hard rock fans. I think many genre fans will really enjoy this album and if this indie release manages to reach a wider audience, Wolf Jaw have the songs to become exceedingly popular.

Wolf Jaw are not Greta Van Fleet, they have a stronger contemporary vibe as opposed to the retroactive vibe GVF go for but they will please the same fanbase. At times I catch elements of The Cult most noticeably in the vocals which have a slight Ian Astbury twang to them, the modern edges make me compare them to the Jon Butler Trio but a more accurate comparison probably sits with The Black Crowes.

The songs are full of blues swagger and rhythm with strong vocals that really makes the songs stick with you. These songs are more about connecting with a live audience as opposed to selling singles via airplay and I think most classic rock fans are looking for albums to enjoy and digest as a whole rather than instant pop hits. With ‘The Heart Won’t Listen’ Wolf Jaw certainly appeal to that demographic of listeners and I can see many blues rocks fans really waxing lyrical over how the songs flow.

Definitely a band that needs seeing live, after my initial listen they quickly went on my list so if undecided or curious check them out, if the songs come across half as well as I think they will they’ll win fans left, right and centre!

7/10

Essential Track - 'Hear Me'

Review by Woody