Death Warmed Up – WildCard
Death Warmed Up – Wildcard
Self Release
Release: 17/04/26
Words: Jon Deaux
Score: 7.5/10 – It’s large, it’s bold, and it does sometimes trip up in its own leather pants—but at least that’s better than a bunch of bands carefully inquiring if they could rock. All they need is time and slightly less reverence for their idols, and not only will they sound like themselves but own the stage.
This is an interesting one. Nobody really asked for it. No one submitted a proposal, there was no committee discussion or a focus group that declared: “What the modern landscape needs most of all is five Nottingham lads bringing Arena Rock from cryogenic preservation next to a beef side and a bottle of hairspray”. However, that didn’t prevent them from doing so. Wildcard makes it happen as if it’s already way past time to celebrate a victory lap.
‘Gods Of Rock n Roll’ opens with the graceless audacity of a brick hitting a conservatory window in the middle of an elegant dinner party. They know exactly what they want to do and do it shamelessly, without any pretences or hints at anything else. It’s a catchy, glossy, stadium-ready anthem that shouts: “Here’s the riff, here’s the chorus – better not drop your drink or you’ll never live this down”. And there’s a little bit of grime here too, the kind that suggests those boys have been spending their lives in that jacket on purpose.
With ‘Inside My Mind’, it stops being about nostalgia and becomes something a little bit menacing. Well, or something that might start a fight after two pints. This one hits you hard and doesn’t care about any form of subtle delivery – it’s loud, in-your-face and suggests the vocalist would continue even if the roof suddenly started collapsing in on him. There’s a moment that suggests a Whitesnake vibe, and yes, that means hips first and dignity second, but it works.
‘Chains Of Hate’ and ‘Cold Act’ explore a different direction, the dark and sinister side of their music, but not in the full-out way. These songs are still not as ominous and menacing as some would expect from their subject matter, although there is a threat behind it, which is quite evident in the vocal performance. Still, it’s a nice mix of a serious statement and an easy-going chorus. It’s the kind of album tracks that are not afraid to explore some darker tones.
‘Rising Star’ is perhaps the most ambitious and arrogant track of the album. In a good way. There is no doubt about it – this is the kind of song that expects you to raise your hands regardless of how many drinks you’ve had. It may sound terrible somewhere else, in another dimension, but Wildcard somehow managed to pull it off with ease. They’re so confident it almost works – confidence can be the strongest weapon against criticism ever invented.
One of the features of the album is the guitar interplay which is clearly noticeable in some of the songs. The boys have mastered the skill and play like Thin Lizzy. In this case, the music has some structure to it, it’s clear and coherent, not just random riffing that lacks purpose. It helps the music not become a mess of attitude, sweat, and hairspray. They know how to perform together and it shows.
The final tracks, ‘Great Day For Dying’ and ‘Mortal Remains’ reach for something spectacular and almost ridiculous with their over-the-top dramatic delivery. However, they succeed precisely in the fact that they don’t apologize for this approach but continue making themselves heard until the last note. At the end, you will realize you nodded with the rest of the crowd – because it made sense at that particular moment.
Then, ‘Death Warmed Up’ brings everything to a close with the final touch of arrogance. It’s almost like writing your own legend while you’re still performing it, but somehow, it feels appropriate after everything they’ve done. It’s absurd and arrogant and completely unnecessary, but you somehow find yourself enjoying every moment of this epic ride.
Here comes the catch – they use all their musical heroes as a template, and sometimes they even copy them. There’s no doubt that there’s an inspiration behind their work, which may look slightly obvious to anyone who knows anything about the genre. But this is not the only aspect of this album – what is important, they never stopped moving forward. That makes it more valuable than any other record.
TRACKLISTING
- Gods Of Rock n Roll
2. Inside My Mind
3. Mortal Remains
4. Cold Act
5. Rising Star
6. Roulette
7. Chains Of Hate
8. Great Day For Dying
9. Death Warmed Up
LINKS
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Jon Deaux and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
