CD: Wolfmother – Victorious

Wolfmother have made something of a name for themselves over the last decade or so by grafting classic 1970s hard rock moves onto stoner grooves and letting their freak flag fly. Anyone who is keen for more from the same template is going to be more than happy with Victorious, the band’s fourth long-player and first since 2014’s New Crown. Wolfmother’s line-up may have been somewhat fluid over the years, but the song more or less remains the same. Not that it’s a bad thing, as there’s always a place for lively, in-your-face heavy rock music.

Nevertheless, new textures and flavours do make an appearance on Wolfmother’s latest outing – even if they are somewhat subtle in the main. In and among the driving grooves and riffing guitars, “Baroness” and “City Lights” also add a splash of anthemic and melodic 1980s spandex metal, but they don’t break from tradition too much. However, while Wolfmother may be no strangers to showing off their sensitive side, “Pretty Peggy” does come as a bit of a shock. Marrying Vance Joy-like folkie pop to Coldplay-esque “Oh-oh-oh”-fuelled choruses, it does stick out here like a sore thumb.

Still, there is also plenty of rawktastic powered riffing with more than a hint of the Ozzy Osbourne-flavoured vocals that long-time listeners have come to expect. “The Love That You Give” and “Victorious” provide a formidable double-barrelled opener, and “Simple Life” and “Gypsy Caravan” lay down some serious head-banging stoner stuff. It is, however, “Best Of A Bad Situation” that provides the album’s highlight. Sunny West Coast vibes wind themselves around a hefty groove for a tune that could become something of a highlight come festival time – and I suspect that's the arena where Wolfmother might truly shine.