Album Review: Wolf Eyes - I Am a Problem: Mind in Pieces
By Jonathan Fuchs, Contributor
[Third Man; 2015]
Rating: 4/5
Key Tracks: “Twister Nightfall,” “Enemy Ladder”
Labeled by many as “the kings of noise rock,” Wolf Eyes have been making some of the weirdest noise music for almost 20 years, filled with sounds that can make even the toughest people uncomfortable. The band never holds back and seems to get more chaotic with every release.
So it’s not a surprise fans were skeptical when learning that their newest record I Am a Problem: Mind in Pieces was going to be released via Third Man Records, a label not known for releasing harsh music. Although the band ditches its abstract style for more melodies and rhythm, I Am a Problem: Mind in Pieces is filthy from start to finish, and is a great listen for fans of experimental music, especially for first-time listeners of Wolf Eyes.
Because of the more easy-to-stomach singing and melodies, this album could be Wolf Eyes’ most accessible. Their past material can be harder to enjoy due to its chaotic style, but the rhythms and Nate Young’s singing make this album easier on the ears.
The instrumentation on tracks “Twister Nightfall” and “Enemy Ladder” are very creative and thoughtful, taking a lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing what will happen next for the entire runtime. Though songs like “T.O.D.D.” and “Asbestos Youth” can drag for a little while, no song on this album is too repetitive, which can be a problem for a lot of noise records.
I Am a Problem: Mind in Pieces looks like just a wall of distortion on the outside, but on the inside is an album filled with raw power and emotion. Those who love noise will probably love this album, but those who don’t should run away from Wolf Eyes as fast as they can.
