Victorious (Wolfmother album)

Victorious
Studio album by Wolfmother
Released 19 February 2016 (2016-02-19)
Recorded 2015 at Henson Recording Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length 35:20
Label Universal
Producer Brendan O'Brien
Wolfmother chronology
New Crown
(2014)		 Victorious
(2016)
Singles from Victorious
  1. "Victorious"
    Released: 20 November 2015 (2015-11-20)

Victorious is the upcoming fourth studio album by Australian hard rock band Wolfmother. Recorded at Henson Recording Studios with producer Brendan O'Brien, it is due to be released on 19 February 2016 by the Universal Music Group. The album was preceded by the release of the title track "Victorious" as a single, which reached number 34 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Recording and production

Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale began working on the follow-up to 2014's New Crown in January 2015 at a studio in New South Wales, writing songs on guitar, bass and drums as he had done previously with the band's 2005 self-titled album.[1] Speaking about the writing process, Stockdale explained that "Back in the early days, I'd play guitar, bass, and drums and then present the ideas to the band and we'd work on the arrangement together", which he claimed is "a good way to do things because it can make the style more cohesive."[1] Two of the earliest tracks written for the album were "The Love That You Give" and "Pretty Peggy", the latter of which was completed in approximately an hour.[2]

Recording for Victorious took place at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, with production led by Brendan O'Brien.[3][4] Stockdale was crediting for writing all of the material and performing all vocals, guitars and bass, with drum contributions coming from Josh Freese and Joey Waronker.[3] Ian Peres did not perform bass on the album as usual, but did record all keyboard parts.[2] Speaking about the recording process, Stockdale has claimed that the sessions were very quick and simple, with a song completed every day or two between himself, O'Brien and the drummer. The album was reportedly finished within a month and a half.[2]

Promotion and release

The first two songs premiered from Victorious were "Victorious" and "City Lights", which were played on Apple Music's Beats 1 radio station by Zane Lowe on 19 November 2015.[5] "Victorious" was later released as the lead single from the album and reached number 34 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[6] "Gypsy Caravan" was released online on 5 January 2016,[7] followed by a lyric video for "Pretty Peggy" on 9 February.[8] All four songs were later included for free with every pre-order of Victorious on iTunes.[9] The album was made available for streaming in full on the National Public Radio website from 10 February 2016.[10]

Following the album's release, Wolfmother will embark on the Gypsy Caravan Tour, which starts with a North American leg on 24 February 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota running until 1 April in Vancouver, British Columbia.[3] This is due to be followed by a 27-show European leg running from 8 April to 14 May.[11] Speaking at the time of the album's announcement, Stockdale noted that the touring lineup would include Ian Peres, but that the drummer would be dependent on schedules; he identified Cosmic Egg drummer Dave Atkins as a possibility.[2]

Composition

Music

Jason Heller of National Public Radio claimed that Victorious "alternates between midtempo, organ-slathered ballads and galloping, pseudo-Sabbath monsters", noting for example that "Baroness" features "sweet melody and saucy come-ons" and praising the "slickly harmonized, larger-than-life, woah-woah-woah chorus" on "Pretty Peggy".[10] Similarly, Loudwire writer Chad Childers noted the Black Sabbath influence on "Victorious" and the "classic rock" style of "City Lights".[2]

Lyrics

The title track "Victorious" was written about "small victories we have ... More so than a battle", which Stockdale claimed "can be a bit one dimensional".[2] The chorus lyric "She will be victorious" was initially going to be "We will be victorious" instead, but Stockdale changed it because he didn't want it to sound "enemy-driven".[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Consequence of SoundD+[12]
Zumic[13]

Media response to Victorious was mixed. Writing for National Public Radio, Jason Heller claimed that all ten songs on Victorious "screech for the stars", praising tracks such as "Baroness", "City Lights" and "Gypsy Caravan" in particular.[10] Loudwire's Chad Childers claimed that the album features "the vitality, energy and muscle that put the band on the musical map back in the mid-2000s", highlighting "Victorious", "Pretty Peggy" and "City Lights" as "standout" tracks.[2]

On the other hand, Consequence of Sound writer Jeremy Zerbe criticised the album as one of the worst released by the band, claiming that it feels "lethargic" and "only finds momentum rarely".[12]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Andrew Stockdale. 

No. Title Length
1. "The Love That You Give"   2:38
2. "Victorious"   4:24
3. "Baroness"   3:15
4. "Pretty Peggy"   3:49
5. "City Lights"   3:51
6. "The Simple Life"   3:12
7. "Best of a Bad Situation"   3:07
8. "Gypsy Caravan"   3:34
9. "Happy Face"   3:31
10. "Eye of the Beholder"   3:59
Total length:
 35:20

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Stingley, Mick (20 November 2015). "Wolfmother announces new album, 'Victorious' and 2016 tour". AXS (Anschutz Entertainment Group). Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Childers, Chad (20 November 2015). "Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale Talks ‘Victorious’ Album, Reveals North American Tour Dates". Loudwire. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Baltin, Steve (19 November 2015). "New Wolfmother! Band Shares Details of 2016 Album (Exclusive)". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Jones, Damian (19 November 2015). "Wolfmother announce comeback album details". NME (Time Inc. UK). Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Williams, Tom (20 November 2015). "Wolfmother Announce New Album 'Victorious', Share Epic Title Track". Music Feeds. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Songs: Wolfmother - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Wolfmother: New Song 'Gypsy Caravan' Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net (Roadrunner Records). 5 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Wolfmother Releases 'Pretty Peggy' Lyric Video". Blabbermouth.net (Roadrunner Records). 9 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Wolfmother: Entire 'Victorious' Album Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net (Roadrunner Records). 11 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 Heller, Jason (10 February 2016). "First Listen: Wolfmother, 'Victorious'". National Public Radio. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  11. ↑ Lach, Stef (18 January 2016). "Wolfmother confirm European tour". TeamRock. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  12. 1 2 Zerbe, Jeremy (15 February 2016). "Wolfmother – Victorious". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Marano, Francesco (15 February 2016). "“Victorious” – Wolfmother [Official Full Album Stream + Zumic Review]". Zumic. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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