Wolfe Sunday – ‘Empty Bottles, Broken Bones’ In Review.

Wolfe Sunday – London, England, United Kingdom.

‘You’re not designed to change the world, but got dammit if you don’t try’

Cover photo credit – Emelie Manser Photography – Click Here.
Photo credit – Lori Gausden-Crow – Click Here.

Wolfe Sunday is a Folk Punk act employing thoughtful, honest and often personal critique of this thing we call life, from the South coast of the UK. Based in and around both Kent and London, this one-man project has toured far and wide all over both the UK and Europe, venturing as far from home as Bulgaria.

The recordings started flowing in December 2014 and have been steadily released since, with Wolfe Sunday utilising a session drummer on some of the recorded work, adding a bit more depth to the “singer-songwriter” formula usually displayed in Acoustic and semi-Acoustic Folk Punk music.

With two full length albums, a compilation, an EP and two singles already under his belt, Wolfe Sunday’s sound has chopped, changed, returned and evolved over his short career. With nods or at least comparisons to the likes of Against Me!, Ramshackle Glory, The Roughneck Riot, Johnny Hobo and Tim TV Smith as well as a whole host bonafide Folk Punk, you get an unquestionable sense of reality.

Classic upbeat Folk – fast and unrestricted, Punk tracks carrying so much intensity, you can shut your eyes and imagine the red-in the face performer behind the mic-stand, or perhaps with just a bare voice, screaming at you in that summer pub garden, it’s a sound for everyone with it’s infectious conviction.

That of course, is just the story so far for Wolfe Sunday. It is time for album three…

\\Empty Bottles, Broken Bones//

‘Kith & Kin’ kicks things off as an intro to both the album and the second track, ‘Sick to The Bone’. Within a few seconds of the former, there’s obvious conviction in the vocals, with an almost sea-shanty Pirate-Folk aesthetic that carries on into latter of two.

‘What did I expect from loveeee, a pint of blood and a block of dust […]
Take a breath – hear these words, for things to get better they’ve got worse’

After these two and a half minutes, you can already hear somewhat of a departure from the previous material, in favour of a more melodic and traditional Folk approach.

‘Spare Change’ is slightly more sombre, and carries one of the best chorus’ of the release, along with perhaps my favourite line – ‘You’re not designed to change the world, but got dammit if you don’t try’. ‘Spare Change’ also brings forth a snippet of the Punk aggression of the past releases, which is almost teasing.

The apparent theme continues with, ‘Go Out To Sea’ with what only be described as a that “slow but meaningful acoustic head-banging track”, that conjures that sunny beer-garden image, where only the music matters.

‘Lith & Limb’ is where everyone in the beer garden shuts up and really pays attention – ‘[…] The things that hurt the most, keep you awake at night, try to get some sleep – before you see daylight, the struggle never ends – the hours pass you by, drifting in and out – never knowing why’. 

‘Dead Benedict’ was released back in December 2015, a perfect way to see out a year and a perfect number for this release. I’d been waiting for song such as this. So far we’ve seen a ode to Wolfe Sunday’s earlier raspy acoustic Folk Punk also leanings to the dark nature of the previous full-length as well but what we were really missing it seems was the dirty bluesy Punk of ‘Dead Benedict’.

‘Strangers In The Dark’ is a heartfelt number but really should’ve been placed before ‘Dead Benedict’ or after, further down the track listing after harder number. The fact that this is the only real criticism however, is a compliment in itself.

‘Leave My Mark’ plugs in and re-discovers the percussion after a solo Wolfe Sunday. It’s a simple track with a message we can all get behind with it’s anthemic determination.

‘I will leave my mark, I will leave my mark – be it small, be it large’

The opening lines to ‘Dream Forgotten’ are chilling and full of regret and “what ifs”, hard hitting to say the least but sadly not quite in-sync with what only can be described as a “fairytale” style plucking that rears it’s head more than once. However, only a few moments of this pass each time before another beautifully real Wolfe Sunday composition takes hold. We’ll let him off.

One thing you can help but like about Wolfe Sunday across the board, is the way that Mr. Sunday will include musical and or vocal additions that don’t quite fit with the seamless nature of his music, yet are somehow tied in and quite frankly pulled off.

If the previous track wasn’t an indication of such then the final, ‘Sleepwalking’, is a solid example. Another tuneful, melodic yet, gritty and aggressive track harder straining vocals are utilised and well. However, the real surprise was the use of short and shrill screams from somewhere in the background, that although are arguably unwelcome, somehow don’t ruin the balance of the song.

Another stellar release from Wolfe Sunday, find this album and his back catalogue, as well as all the information you need to get acquainted below:

• For updates, head to Facebook and Twitter.
• For the Wolfe Sunday’s previous releases, up for ‘Free/Name Your Price’ download, head to bandcamp.
• For this release, Click Here, to head there directly.

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