WHITE WOLF - Victim Of The Spotlight

Posted: 01/01/08

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Heavy Metal / Hard Rock

Released: 08/21/07

Artist URL: www.whitewolfworld.com

To Purchase CDs: www.whitewolfworld.com/store.html

I first became aware of Canada's White Wolf when I saw their video for "Shadows In The Night" on Night Flight on the USA Network back in 1984.  Around the same time, I remember that Hit Parader magazine ran a White Wolf promotional campaign providing a free flexible 45 rpm in the magazine.  I always thought that was cool and different for the time period.  I never heard much of anything else about the band, but I did see one more video from them called "She" from their 1986 album, Endangered Species.  After that, the group disbanded and I never heard anything more about them or the band members.

I almost fell off my chair when I heard that Victim Of The Spotlight was released.  Apparently, the president of Escape Music encouraged White Wolf vocalist Don Wilk to resurrect the band.  While Victim Of The Spotlight only features two original members, Wilk and guitarist Cam MacLeod, the cd sounds as if it's the followup to the band's debut, Standing Alone.  Not only has the band's imagery been captured on the new cover art, but each and ever song sounds similar to the debut, just with the production qualities of today.  Wilk's vocals have not diminished at all - if you loved his classic but original sound back in the 80s, you'll love him now.  MacLeod's traditional guitar riffs and solos are a pleasure to listen to, and he sounds like he has been playing steadily for the past two decades, as he is crisp and on point.

Of the twelve songs, choruses are all cut from the early 80s, with the title track, "America (Hello Again)," "Out Of Control," and "Hard Cold Stone" being songs that are musts for your iPod.

The Bloody Truth:  Most reunited bands release disappointing new studio albums, but White Wolf certainly have done the opposite, despite being away from the scene for over two decades.  This is a classic sounding album that balances melody with hard rock and metal guitar riffs and solos.  There's nothing cheesy here in the least - this is true hard rock music - the stuff that you'll rarely hear these days - the stuff that was all over the place in the early to mid 80s.  Surf over to the White Wolf site listed above to listen to samples and to purchase this cd or the band's previous releases.