“Resilience” is the sophomore album by US progressive black / folk metal trio Wandering Oak, slated for the release on February 2nd, 2024. The song-writing prowess is out in full force here, each composition holding its own individual themes and feel and developing into something truly epic through subtlety and development rather than incessant symphonic layering, taking time to allow things to unfurl before bursting into that spirited sweet spot. Wandering Oak‘s songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Robert Pollard is an absolute master of the crescendo, case in point being the opening “To Lir They Fell” spiraling towards one of the finest guitar solos laid down in recent times and the self-titled track’s emphatic final chorus coming across as truly apocalyptic leaving smouldering crumbled remains in its aftermath.
The weight to these songs is staggering, feeling less black metal-informed and instead leaning towards a classic heavy metal and doom-tinged sound. When black metal does become most prominent like on “Snowbound” with its searing double bass, it’s all the more venomous for it. The thick production suits this more violent material perfectly, the snare in particular hitting like a tank, and the album also makes clear what has been suspected for a fair while now: Pollard is one of the most versatile metal singers at the moment. His range, both technically and emotively, is jaw-dropping, his prophetic eruptions are out of this world. The man is such a phenomenal singer that it’s easy to forget his harsh black metal shriek is pretty impeccable too. His gravitas and touching relatability would only be a redeeming feature meanwhile if the band behind him (Andrew McGirr on guitar, Deidre House on fretless bass, and CW Dunbar on drums) weren’t equally as alluring, the instrumental work as rousing and tangibly human as its booming mouthpiece. Every single emotional button is pushed as it sucks you in and demands response.
“Resilience” is as close to flawless as they come. Wandering Oak are undoubtedly one of the most special and vital bands within the metal underground, and this album is one of the strongest releases to come out in 2024 so far. Devoid of mystical pretensions and deeply connected with both primal intuitions and the complexities of the real world, “Resilience” is genuine and as enveloping and engaging as anything else available. Wandering Oak are a band worth making time for.
Devoid of mystical pretensions and deeply connected with both primal intuitions and the complexities of the real world, “Resilience” is genuine and as enveloping and engaging as anything else available.
