When Gallows arrived from Watford, England, with Orchestra of Wolves in 2006, the British hardcore punk scene finally had its knockout band. Driven by Frank Carter’s electric presence on vocals, this debut immediately imposed a fury and an intensity that cut against the polished English rock of the era. It is raw, brutal, visceral.
A discharge of rage
Orchestra of Wolves does nothing by halves. The riffs are hacked out, the rhythm gallops, and Frank Carter’s voice flays every syllable as if it were the last. The band draws on punk rock, hardcore and a greasy rock and roll, producing an explosive mixture. The songs, short and nervous, radiate an urgency recalling the great hours of British punk fury.
Sincerity above all
What strikes you, beyond the violence, is the authenticity. Gallows are not playing a part: the despair, anger and black humor of the lyrics ring true. You sense a youth on edge, ready to smash everything, but also an intelligence in the writing that avoids mere venting. The choruses, screamed until the voice breaks, stay surprisingly memorable. The raw production serves this unvarnished statement perfectly.
The record obviously bears the marks of a first effort. The production, though it fits the spirit, sometimes lacks power, and some tracks fall short of the album’s peaks. The band is still searching for its identity in places, between melodic punk and pure hardcore. These imperfections take nothing away, though, from the impact of a record that breathes sincerity.
A thunderclap
Orchestra of Wolves remains a milestone of the British hardcore punk revival of the 2000s. On it Gallows capture the energy of a band with nothing to lose, with rare intensity and a freshness that has not aged a day. It may not be their most accomplished record, but it is the one that set everything off. An indispensable first cry of rage.
