Described as shapeshifting, atmospheric noise rock, “The Silver Snake Unfolds” is Wailin Storms’s second album following their 2020 debut “Rattle”.

Do I suspect that Wailin Storms have been listening to Black Sabbath? Well it seemed like it as I listened to the gloomy and atmospheric “In the Heart of the Sea”. The atmosphere is enhanced by an impressive expanse of sound, a nagging riff, and outbursts of power including some versatile vocals. This sea is one of moodiness. As ‘In the heart of the Sea” is Black Sabbath, “Broken into Three” is The Cure. It’s a banging, original hard rock track. The drum beat is at its heart. The talented vocalist beseeches us as the instrumentalists pump out a noise-driven vibe. Imperious, pompous, vibrant … great song. Wailin Storms have captured the knack of creating punchy, catchy songs while infusing edge and originality. “Sunday Morning Ceremony” is another adrenaline-driven affair, taking us into dark chasmic realms. It’s heavy to be fuzzy but it’s that way inclined. From this we go to the dark and soulful “Drag”. Again the instrumentals speak, colourfully adding mood to the vocalist’s melancholic lyrics before expanding in power and widening in impact.

The song which had less impact on me was “Who Took Our Drugs”. It has the usual noise-laden expanse and the singer’s wailing suggests he’s in pain but this one didn’t seem to have any direction to it. The album needed a more dynamic turn, and what we get is the complex “The Silver Snake Unfolds and Swallows the Black Night Whole” Heavy with a little bit of Opeth about it, the dreaminess that runs through these songs is there. It bursts into life with a heavy rock and roll section. This is Wailin Storms at their most powerful. Eeriness dominates “Concrete Covers Dead Lovers”. The vocals are mysterious, and the instrumentalists combine with powerful patter and lush patterns. This is hypnotic. The vocalist cries tunefully to the skies. The heavy hypnotic beat goes on. The atmosphere intensifies and the song ends with a bit of old-fashioned fuzz rock, heightened by the mystical vocal tones. Winds whistle. The guitar plays a solitary chord. Like “In the Heat of the Sea” which starts the album, “Carolina Moon” drips with mood and attitude. The song takes off chunkily. The vocalist tells his tale evocatively. The instrumentalists provide power and gloom.

There’s something old school about “The Silver Snake Unfolds”. Wallin Storms are particularly good at combining weight and colour, and have a major asset in the vocalist who matches and enhances the distinct moods that the instrumentalists create. The use of sound is excellent, and Wailin Storms extract every last drop of atmosphere out of these intriguing heavy rock songs.

(8/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/wailinstorms

https://gileadmedia.bandcamp.com/album/the-silver-snake-unfolds