| SHORT Quotes : FOR SEASONS OF THE WOLF - NOCTURNAL REVELATION HEAVY METAL GUIDE @ ABOUT.COM Nov. 26th 2001 - by Alan Gilkeson Seasons of the Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation There's no other independent band in the world to garner as much success as these guys have done completely on their own. Totally varied and never predictable, SOTW once again throw their name into the proverbial hat of best kept secrets, though they're right at the top of that pile of bands. FOCUS MAGAZINE -Review Dec 1st -2001 Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation Over the past few years, Bradenton’s Seasons Of The Wolf have stood their ground, took more than their share of critical cheap shots, while accumulating a subsatnial underground following with their brawny and bombastic sound. Classic - tinged, surge-heavy and soul-hungry, SOTW’s third disc is a commanding release. The band’s performances are solid and snarly, balancing beautiful themes with brutal intensity. As heralds for the New Wave of Florida Heavy Metal, we should expect nothing less. ROUGH EDGE.COM Dec. 19th 2001 - by Scott R. Bolton Seasons Of The Wolf - "Nocturnal Revelation" - Earth Mother Music Seasons of the Wolf, are the missing link between "progressive" and "heavy." With "Nocturnal Revelation," they further prove that this is one band that's determined to carve a sound of their own. Continuing to blend the various metal genres, Seasons of the Wolf create a unique beast with this CD. Seasons of the Wolf is a band that's re-inventing metal - and they continue to succeed magnificently! SMOTHER E-ZINE - Jan. 1st 2001 - by J-Sin Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation Seasons of the Wolf bleeds metal. They are able to manufacture a metal hit out of every song with infecting grooves and lead guitars that bleed. "Dark and Lonely Depths" is the instrumental that just keeps on giving with its masterfully played instrumentation. DARKLAND ZINE - Greenbush, NY - Jan. 2002 Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation This is the 3rd recording from these prog-goth metal pioneers. I can tell you right now it wouldn’t be fair to new listeners of SOTW to pigeonhole them into a specific category. Very pro layout and production are obvious signs that these 5 guys take music seriously. Give it a listen and you’ll be hooked. Atmospheric yet heavy! CHAOS REALM FANZINE - January 20th 2001 by Ray Dorsey SEASONS OF THE WOLF - "Nocturnal Revelation" (Earth Mother, US) Enter Florida's SEASONS OF THE WOLF. Songs that were written not to spin your head but to be catchy and vocals that are not only powerful but wholly original. The fact that SOTW can do all this on this killer new disc, plus still sound cutting-edge and not the least bit dated all add up to make them one of the very best metal bands on the current scene. This is metal for now, from people who not only realize that there is a future but that there was a past. They tie it all together with ripping guitar work, sh*t-hot production and Wes Waddell's incomparably unique vocals. Fantastic output, 3 times running! INK 19 - Florida & Georgia - Jan. 28th 2002 by Bing Futch *SEASONS OF THE WOLF* - Nocturnal Revelation Earth Mother Music - USA (Four out of five stars) Bradenton-based quintet Seasons Of The Wolf follow-up their powerful "Lost In Hell" CD with a disc that finds them dabbling in a variety of hard-edged styles while keeping one foot firmly in their self-described arena of "new-age metal." Along with keyboard-heavy gothic rockers, there’s a taste of speed. Not your average 80’s dark-death angel band, SOTW continues to evolve and carries a fine torch for pure theatrical heavy metal. HARDER BEAT MAGAZINE - Dallas, TX - Feb. 2002 by Jeff Dennis Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation, Earth Mother Music Florida’s SOTW remains one of the country’s true underground metal bands. Hopefully, with this third album under their belts, that status will change. Although bands are nice to have in the underground, it’s rewarding when they break out. That’s very possible with a CD like this. **** Recommended THE PLAUGE REVEIW - - March 1st 2002 - by Dan Hinds SEASONS OF THE WOLF Nocturnal Revelation (Earth Mother) This Florida outfit has defied trends since day one and continue to grind out some top-quality power metal that is uniquely their own. Bits of 70s rock are mixed in with ultra-heavy power metal numbers, resulting in some seriously doomy, epic tracks. This is SOTW's third album and, in my estimation, best yet. The song writing is consistently strong throughout, the production is thick and tight and the performances are all marvelous. Granted, it is always harder to market a band with originality, but given their commitment, critical acclaim and obvious skill at writing classic metal tunes, I can think of few more deserving. [Daniel Hinds] THE METAL OBSERVER - GERMANY - March 10th 2002 by Ralf Henn Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation One of the best bands of the whole underground is impressively reporting back with power. After the brilliant "Lost In Hell" my expectations had been very high and I have not been disappointed at all! No, the Florida-boys present us with a hammer of an album that you just have to have heard. SEASONS OF THE WOLF catapult their old-school-sound, spiced up with spheric keyboard-sounds, directly into the here and now. As long as there are bands that make such intense, energetic and credible Metal-music, I do not fear for the future of Metal. BATTLE HELM MAGAZINE - March 8th, 2002 by Josh Cook Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation I was pretty impressed with their self titled debut and this new one is no dissapointment! This disk stayed in the player for over a week so I built up some faves which are: New Age Revelation,, Nocturanl Revelation,, Magnetic Star and Transmission. This is a band one can't really put their finger on so it'll be interesting to see what comes about with the next album. PROMETHEAN CRUSADE - Pottstown, PA - March 16th, 2002 - by Mike Rosser Seasons of the Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation (Earth Mother Music/Snakenet Records) Nocturnal Revelation basically goes straight for the throat and rocks your ass off, while still retaining the band's signature sound. Closing out Nocturnal Revelation is a blistering rocker called "Transmission" which proclaims the future rebirth of Heavy Metal - I'm not going to say we're there yet considering what passes for Metal in mainstream society, but with bands such as Seasons of the Wolf championing the cause, we're back on track for Global domination! I can't really do the band justice in words because their music speaks for itself; do yourself a favor and check them out. THE METAL COVEN - Germany - March 18th, 2002 - by Tobias Seasons OF the wolf " Nocturnal Revelation " (13 Songs, 55:20 minutes, the releases: 2001, label: Earth Mother Music) Nocturnal Revelation " is the newest factory of Seasons OF the wolf, one the probably most independent, most extreme and err-funniest power Metal in the USA at the moment gives! On the one hand the Songs sounds totally traditional, on the other hand however by the completely driven off key board sound modern items is again and again integrated. The sound is really so singular that it falls me heavily to be able to dress it at all into words. They are really one the most creative power Metal institutions, which came me ever under! " Nocturnal Revelation " strotzt before surprises and imaginativeness, no Song works only in such a way predictably. ROCKHARDHORROR - Fargo, ND - March 12th, 2002 - by Torch Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation - Earth Mother Music SOTW Captures the spirit of 80’s Heavy Metal while moving the genre ahead into the new millennium. Fans young and old can appreciate the stories being told by the band and their true conviction for their art. SOTW still maintain their status as a "New Age Metal" band that strays into the progressive genre, but when it’s all said and done, these guys are Heavy Metal in it’s truest from. The production is world class, and it may be time to mention that band is indpendent of any label support, which means they do EVERYTHING themselves and have no one looking over their shoulders. TRANSCENDING THE MUNDANE - Bohemia, NY - March, 2002 by Editor - Brett Vanputt Without a doubt, Seasons of the Wolf are among the top five American metal bands. Their unique, open minded and creative songwriting are simply incomparable. They have one of the most unique and identifyable vocalists you will ever hear. ELECTRIC BASEMENT - MARCH 22nd, 2002 by Jason Savage SEASONS OF THE WOLF - Nocturnal Revelation (Earth Mother Music) SOTW have embraced an old school sound and have taken it to the next level. With two previous releases: 1996’s self-titled and 1999’s "Lost in Hell," SOTW has just unleashed "Nocturnal Revelation," their third effort. They have taken the best of all worlds and created a very intense and haunting metal opera. Part speed metal, part gothic and part prog with very distinctive new age keyboard sounds, SOTW takes the listener on a journey into the mind. This was definitely one of the best metal albums I have ever heard. A true classic in every sense of the word. BEAT THE BLIZZARD WEBZINE - NORWAY - by AJ Blisten - Feb. 2002 SEASONS OF THE WOLF: "Nocturnal Revelation" (Earth Mother Music) IV "What's really good about this record is the successful implementation of a cautious experimental approach, mostly done by keyboards with strong and traditional American heavy metal. The outcome is original and great songs and I love the nice Blue Öyster Cultish feel that comes through in some guitar parts. Wes Waddell is a great metal vocalist and his expression fits in perfect with the songs and overall feels on the album. "Nocturnal Revelation" is an album people will recognize directly as metal they've used to listen to, but it also has a lot to offer to listeners who wants to discover more layers and depths in the music. This album's got it all. MUSICDISH - OPEN REVIEWS - by Ben Ohmart (Assistant Editor) March 26th 2002 Seasons of the Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation Earth Mother Music I am pulled to this heavy guitar rock with the screaming imp of a voice that crackles his way through the evil forests and vast, loud worlds of low to the bass music. To us prog-heads, this is the metal we'll take home and sleep with under the pillow. It progresses, tells a story, without having to use words every damn second, and most of all - it pumps, in a way that is out of the ordinary, yet keeps in line with melodic rites and a honing of the craft that must take infinitely more time to set up than just your average plug n play band. Music good enough for Superman & Lex Luther both. THE TAMPA TRIBUNE - by Music Critic CURTIS ROSS - March 8th, 2002 Seasons Of The Wolf - Earth Mother Music "Nocturnal Revelation" is as straight forward shot of heavy metal as has been heard for some time. Dennis "Samurai" Ristow’s synthesizers hark back to mid-’70s Deep Purple while bassist Chris Whitford and drummer Wayne Hoefle favor tempos along the line of vintage Judas Priest. Singer Wes Edward Waddell’s yowl is in the Ronnie James Dio mold, just right for the melodramatic-apocalyptic lyrics. Barry "Skully" Waddell’s rapid-fire guitar riffs set the musical agenda in no-nonsence fashion. RRCA / EMPEROR MULIMEDIA - Canada By Derek McDonald - April 9th 2002 Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation Earth Mother Music (2002) A smashingly dynamic recording and the best thus far from these Florida musicians. This disc shows Wes Waddell's voice coming across as powerful and strong. The disc also showcases the keyboard efforts of Dennis Ristow; his synths coming in to add flavour and timely texture to the crunching thrash influenced guitars. SOTW are quite simply a dynamic progressive metal act. BRIGHTEYES MAGAZINE - Germany - April, 2002 - By Tom Klanger Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation - Earth Mother Music - 11 of 13 eyes Nocturnal Revelation is the current and meanwhile third complete album from the Florida Underground Kings. Singer Wes Edward Waddell presses also the 13 (represented here!) Compositions its dirty singing stamp on the notes. Already the Opener New Age Revolution makes good mood and with Dead zone feels reminded one almost a little at the good old Mr. Dirkschneider from old Accept times. The Titelsong is a Doomer with geilen BREAK and with Liar. becomes effective those variety of Wes. voice so correctly. A disk all around succeeded thus and a genuine enriching for the scene. Seasons OF The Wolf remain a positive appearance in the Metal Underground. The wolf hunt began. METAL RULES.COM - Canada - by Cid April 14th 2002 Seasons of the Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation - Earth Mother Music | Rating: 4.2/5 Well, time has come again to review their work! NOCTURNAL REVELATION is a monster of an album! If you’re looking for comparisons with other bands, I’d find it very hard to point out anything similar. I must admit though that at times, this band reminds a lot of older Savatage. The general ambiance for the album is a really gloomy mosaic that showcases a dark and very well arranged set of tracks that at times make you feel even "doomy". VAE SOLIS WEBZINE - Moscow Russia - by Herr Stalhammer April 2002 SEASONS OF THE WOLF (Nocturnal Revelation) Earth Mother Music - rating: 5,5 / 6 Unique band, isn’t it? What? This quintet definitely deserves to be at least a bit more well-known. I truly liked both, the self-titled debut and (Lost In Hell), however if you asked me to pick up best work of theirs, I’d definitely choose (Nocturnal Revelation). This CD strikes as most dismal, most anxious work by SEASONS OF THE WOLF. Just try to imagine BLACK SABBATH’s (Never Say Die! played by two bands simultaneously, one very heavy metal, another one very gothic metal. Sort of hard to conceive anything like that, huh? But that is the image I had, image having a good time in my head, while I was giving (Nocturnal Revelation)a listen for the first , second, third and for the millionth time. HAMMERHEAD ZINE - by Matt - Metuchen, NJ - MAY 13th 2002 Seasons Of The Wolf Nocturnal Revelation - Earth Mother Music Coming to us from Florida, I must tell you that this band did really catch my ear. I want to say that the vocals this guy Wes provides brings you to the late 70's early 80's sounds like Accept, Metal Church and Over Kill or even Krokus. They then take the elements of today's more progressive sides with the keyboards playing right along. You will hear most of what I'm talking about on "New Age Revolution". "Dead Zone" continues the more uptempo side. They do ad many more elements to this and make it pretty exciting. It seems to have extraterrestrial feel to it for sure. Definitely a futuristic band for today. I started to think a more Goth Savatage when hearing "Quilex". Some really neat sounds are on this one. "Liar" is the standout track to me. This band has a very interesting sound. It definitely has many horror sides and sci-fi metal as you will find out. It's a very interesting new wave to hear. LEGENDS MAGAZINE -By Chris Eissing - May 24th, 2002 Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation Overall Seasons of the Wolf's sound, albeit nostalgic, never turns into a tribute. Because to them it isn't a past tense. Heavy power ballad rock mixed with head banging ass kicking tunes makes it music to cruise to in the day, chill to at night, and even get a little Timothy Leary to. That is if you think you can handle the instrumental Dark and Lonely Depths when you're peaking. They have crafted a mix of old and new without being pretentious, and without sounding played out. It runs the gamut of sounds and emotions in metal. MIDWEST METAL MAGAZINE - By Tom T. Vader - October 2002 Seasons Of The Wolf - Nocturnal Revelation - Earth Mother Music SOTW are as flexible as any major label band out there. There is a traditional feel to their sound with keyboard parts actually accenting everything rather than taking over. Anyone thinking they’re holding the flag for True Metal , without some SOTW you’re just holding your dick. FROM THE UNDERGROUND - Germany - by Marco Korn - March 21st 2003 SEASONS OF THE WOLF - Nocturnal Revelation The band out of Florida managed it again, to release an absolute phantastic album. "Nocturnal Revelation" is a synonym for a totally amazing. Thirteen threatening and sinister songs made of this peculiar and inimitable mix that is typical for SOTW. You can't label this all properly, i just throw in some slogans, and that's what's finally coming out for me: Psycho Hippie Progressive Doom. How this is gonna sound like, everyone has figure out by its own. To me it's like a transport of joy. BETTY MAGAZINE - New York - by Rachelle Nones - May 12th 2003 SEASONS OF THE WOLF - Nocturnal Revelation - EMM - USA A definitive description of SOTW would be Shakespeare meets T.S. Elliot's "The Wasteland" on acid. Stranger still, are the Twilight Zone - style prophetic abilities that this band appears to possess. This is definitely not mainstream white bread music. It's a strong brew, and after listening to this album it's not hard to understand why their music has been featured in sci-fi and horror films. METAL CRYPT.com - Tulsa, OK - by Sargon the Terrible - June 3rd 2003 SEASONS OF THE WOLF - Nocturnal Revelation - EMM - USA Fans of SOTW should get this without hesitation, as all the elements are here: from Wes Waddell's gritty sneering tenor to the cool riffs, moody instrumentals and weird lyrical themes. "Quilex" is the first time I have ever heard a love song about a spaceship! SOTW have done things their own way for near a decade, and they just keep getting cooler. |