Sign Of The Wolf – S/T
(Escape Music - 2025)
(Genre - Rock)
If you loved any era of the late Ronnie James Dio (and who doesn’t?) then this album is for you. The man behind the idea is Bruce Mee of Fireworks Magazine. He wanted to create an album that mixed a bit of Rainbow, Black Sabbath & Dio. This works well.
To make it happen he has managed to include many of the artists from the bands of this period. Let’s start with Rainbow's Tony Carey, whose keyboards create an epic backdrop. Ex-Black Sabbath & Dio man, Vinny Appice occupies the drum stool that propels and powers this forward.
Other featured artists include Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake/ Dio). Last In Line’s Vocalist, Andrew Freeman leads from the front. There is a plethora of others on this project, including Steve Mann, Mark Mangold and Fredrik Folkare (Eclipse / Nordic Union). In fact, Folkare co-wrote most of the songs with Mee.
I am always unsure about albums of this nature, even when they work, they can lack an organic feel. A band should be a living and breathing being, not a hybrid that has been brought together through the many wonders of modern technology. I am not dismissing this album, but it doesn’t leave me ‘Starstruck’ nor do I see ‘Neon Nights’, I doubt it will even make me ‘Stand Up And Shout’.
Collectively, Sign Of The Wolf has achieved exactly what it was intended to do. Opener, ‘Last Of The Unicorn’ begins the album in grandiose, epic fashion with Carey’s keys creating a vibrant Eastern feel before going into battle with the guitars, before they burst into life with ferocity and purpose. As a song it plagiarises ‘Kill The King’ again and again.
The sound of marching introduces ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ that is pure early Dio built with speed and power. ‘Still Me’ has a great chunky riff and neat vocals, very melodic and the phrasing really hooks the listener in. ‘Silent Killer’ is dark and brooding, vocally and sound-wise it is like Tony Martin era Sabbath. ‘Rainbow’s End’ tries to add a bit more colour, by it’s end there is no pot of gold: call it a competent Rocker if you like.
‘Rages Angels’ offers a mystical intro which builds courtesy of some great keys from Carey. It is full of drama as it drives towards a great guitar solo from Aldrich. Helicopter drums from Appice get ‘Bouncing Betty’ started then it drifts into a mid-paced ballad of sorts the vocals are hi octane and supercharged, but I have one question what is Betty bouncing on?
Sign Of The Wolf concludes with the title track and the Dio vibe is enormous. It is a great way to finish a very solid album. Now then I understand the purpose of recreating the music from an era that captivated us older Rock fans, it does what it does with purpose and great musicianship. Is it a worthy addition to your collection though?
For me, it is not something I would return to frequently preferring 'Rainbow Rising', Sabbath's 'Heaven & Hell', Dio's 'Holy Diver' or even Tyr.
By Paul Mace