THE WILD – Still Believe in Rock and Roll (Album Review)

THE WILD - Still Believe in Rock and Roll (Album Review)
Dylan Villain of THE WILD at Sweden Rock 2019 – Photo by: Shawn Irwin

Canada’s THE WILD! truly are a force to reckon with. They’ve grown a lot in popularity and recognition with good reason, but there’s still so very many not in the know. The band, based out of Kelowna, B.C. launched in 2012. Releasing their first video in 2012 for the song “Roadhouse” brought them airplay on Canadian rock radio. That video going viral brought tours with the likes of Korn, Rise Against, Monster Truck, The Glorious Sons and One Bad Son. So much was the hype and The Wild!‘s reputation precede them did eOne Music Canada sign them to a deal. Without ever even seeing them play live yet! Not too bad for an independent band!

Musically the band is a melting pot of Hard Rock, Southern Rock, Punk, and Blues ground up and spit out with a flamin’ “take no shit” attitude. It’s brash and in your face, making you want a shower after listening! The debut 7-song EP, GxDxWxB, which stands for God Damn Wild Boys arrived in 2015. Produced by none other than Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Aerosmith, Jimmy Page, Van Halen). Two years later, 2017 brought us the 10-tracker Wild at Heart with Mike Fraser again at the helm. Ladies and gentlemen…I present The WildStill Believe in Rock and Roll!

THE WILD – Still Believe in Rock and Roll

THE WILD - Still Believe in Rock and Roll (Album Review)
THE WILD – Still Believe in Rock and Roll

Canada’s most notorious rock band launch their latest collection with “Bad News”. The sound of a car speeding by greets us ahead of the explosion of thunderously anthemic punk-ish rock that one expects from The Wild!. Loaded with attitude and swagger, “Bad News” features an infectious chorus that should go down well in concert. Great start to Still Believe in Rock and Roll.

Bassman Boozus (love that name) leads off the foot-stomping roller coaster ride that is “Crazy For You”. There’s a little “Sympathy For The Devil” reminiscent “oooh, oooh, ooh’s” underlying Dylan Villain‘s guitar solo. And it all works beautifully! In the third spot, we find “Nothing Good Comes Easy”, a more of a mid-tempo rocker guaranteed to have your fist up high, something that The Wild! create so well!

The album showcases ten songs, most under the 4-minute mark, the final cut “Gasoline” being the major exception at 6:03. Included is the long released single “Playing with Fire”  viewable below. If this is your entry to The Wild!, this advance single will serve as a perfect window into the Still Believe in Rock and Roll album. The second single “King of This Town” drops the day of the album’s release and is another raucous fist in the air anthem featuring a melodic sing-along chorus.

My favourite earworm currently on Still Believe in Rock and Roll sits in the ninth position. The shortest track at only 2:17, “Goin to Hell” is a high energy, breakneck pace, punk and roll delight.

My Summary

Overall this third effort from Kelowana’s The Wild! fits perfectly into their catalogue and follows the same vein of its predecessors. Produced by frontman Dylan Villain, again the band also worked with Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Aerosmith, Jimmy Page, Van Halen) on this one.

BUY Still Believe in Rock and Roll: Official Store

OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK

THE WILD! Toronto Gets Wild at Bovine Sex Club (Feature)

Also see: THE WILD! at Sweden Rock 2019

Cheers,

The Meister

Find more of my album reviews here: Meister Music

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