Written By Wolves // The Lighthouse // Album review

Having released the debut album Secrets in 2019, this concept album picks up where that one finished and explores the thoughts and feelings we avoid sharing and the mental toll that is taken – The Lighthouse is focussing on what drags us from the dark places in our minds.

The Lighthouse is that place that shines through the darkness and murky skies – Written By Wolves are looking to help put you at ease and offer that reassurance that there is light to guide you to safety.

The 13-track offering is a blend of many different sounds and genres – there is a definite modern metal musical backing with a clean vocal and some Electronic aspects as well as Rock – a mixed bag of sounds and emotions raging from quite serene to heavy with breakdowns.

The majority of the tracks have very big sounding choruses, the kind of which you would expect to sung by a live crowd back to the band and would sound anthemic.

‘Burn’ certainly heads into the heavier realms opening with chunky riffs to welcome you before a slight reprieve and then the bridge leads to an explosion of sound. This sound shows a bit of everything that the band put on the album and its good.

On the other end of the heavy spectrum, we have the album title track, where we venture into a more stripped-back and vulnerable approach to the sound and if you can’t relate then you are lying to yourself. Whether you are struggling with things now or have done in the past – this track is going to talk to you and hopefully help give you that grounding and comfort – things will get better.

As things get a little more lively before closing, you will get picked back up and dusted off, ready to look to the future and get to that safe space that is the source of the light.

The Lighthouse may not be what id usually listen to, but it is refreshing to hear such open and raw emotion in the sound of a blend of music that matches the content and feeling. There is no doubt that there are people who need to hear this and those who will need to in the future.

Listen to it from start to finish and follow the concept – allow yourself to go on the journey and feel the uplift toward the end.

The Lighthouse will be released on Friday 26^th July 2024 and be self-released.

Review: Ed Ford