The Republic Of Wolves - The Cartographer

The Republic Of Wolves - The Cartographer
Scheduled Release Date: 1st January Self-Relased

I jumped into this release with a very open-mind as I had only heard one track by this band, which was The Oarsman, and it did not disappoint, so it left me feeling skeptical on the band's debut, until they released The Cartographer which is a borderline lengthy EP or a short but very sweet LP.
 The Pilot And The Pilot's Boy is an interesting introduction that starts with very mysterious sounding bells over crashing waves, which gives quite an eerie feel, but leaves with a very abrupt finish that leads nicely into Home with clean electric guitars and layered vocals which reminded me very much of Suede's very own Brett Anderson in small parts. It's an enjoyable but quite subtle song, some nice sounds make it feel almost like a more epic sounding Brand New, complete with clever flowing lyrics on a totally different sound.
 Flowing very nicely into the next track Calm Down, including very similar vocals and lyrics, as if continued but with a more calm and relaxed feel. The use of chiming bells and echoed vocals give this track a real dream-like, transparent feel.
 Widow's Walk opens and i'm very impressed by how great the flow is from track to track, slight rocking sounds are heard, mimicing a stationary boat at sea, then drums come in with great sounding crashes and hi hats and some very emotional vocals. Suddenly the vocals change to screaming over the top of the drums and guitar, the vocals become more layered, and the drums sound so good in this track. Then everything goes quiet and its just a simple guitar, then joined by another, the vocals return with rattling drums and everything is seriously working brilliantly, this track has a great solemn feel to it. And then the screamed vocals and drums come crashing in one more time and then its over. Fantastic.
 Again flowing in with simple guitar work, drums and more layered vocals, India sounds quite depressing and low, and then everything explodes and screamed vocals cross between layered clean vocals, with great feedback guitar work, everything just fits wonderful. After another chorus everything slows down and a clean guitar starts playing over some very emotionally propelled vocals and then it bursts again and the drumming is absolutely fantastic, the whole sound is compelling and it just sucks you in until it spits you out right at the end. Mirage starts with great vocals over a simple acoustic guitar that feels very lonely and lost. Tambourine and drums intrude and then more layered vocals come in, everything gets louder and a very interesting second guitar riff plays over the others. Suddenly a quoir of "oh's" appear and i'm quite let down with the idea of the shouty chorus vocals, making them sound too over the top with their repetitive shouting. The track starts off really well, until the quoir comes in, which is a shame, and brings this track to a mediocre at best.
 The Dead Men Stood Together totally drags you in with really hard riffing and drums and clean electric guitar playing over the top. The vocals come in and then several vocals come in over the instruments during what is a really simple and great chorus. The second verse repeats and the end has some wonderful guitar moments and then you're left with a slow guitar riff over increasing hi-hats and then some lengthy vocals come in and everything starts to build up with a chant of "we are" and then it brings everything together, and then more screamed vocals layered in with increased "we are" chants until everything fades out and you're left with the haunting chants as everything slowly fades until silence for around 2 minutes until a raw drearing acoustic comes in with crackling vocals. Not really that impressive, it comes off as a very generic acoustic song, bit of a poor finish.
 At the close of the record, I feel that The Republic Of Wolves have some very big ideas up their sleeves, both equal in high and low factors. Taking in the full sound of The Cartographer, it's a wonderful experience, if not just a little too short for my taste, and I am left wanting alot more from these promising musicians.
9/10

Thomas Eccles