If you haven’t heard of the Finnish/British progressive metal outfit WHEEL yet, shame on you! Our journey with the band started in 2018, just before the release of their second EP, “The Divide.” A couple of albums later, the trio is now on the brink of releasing their third installment, “Charismatic Leaders,” on May 3rd, 2024, via InsideOut Music, which the band has dubbed their heaviest album to date.
The album kicks off with “Empire,” a high-energy progressive feast for the ears. There is plenty to appreciate in this track, starting with the mix that features crisp cymbals, snares, a bassline to die for, and rich guitar tones. The vocals, heavy yet melodic, align with James Lascelles‘ signature style, but with the song’s themes about the influence of media empires on society, they sound angrier than ever. And then there’s that breakdown at the very end of the song, something I can’t recall the band ever incorporating into their music before; it ties everything together perfectly, setting a heavy tone right from the start!
WHEEL wouldn’t be WHEEL without juxtaposing an intense track with a more melodic banger. “Porcelain,” a 7-minute piece, follows the intense opening. It feels like a beautiful wave of emotions washing over you, carrying you along. With its soothing vocal melody line contrasted against heavier underlying layers and textures, the song strikes a perfect balance. The slow yet piercing guitar solo midway through is simply beautiful, seamlessly blending back into James‘ vocals.
“Submission” is the longest track, clocking in at 10 minutes and 46 seconds. Despite James‘ impeccable vocals and the beautiful lyrics, it’s the instrumental work that steals the show, with guitar riffs so perfectly executed that they could lead you to believe the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything is not 42 (according to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) but rather WHEEL. The intricate riffs give way halfway through to a moody section with a hint of jazz in the bass and drums.
A bit slower but possibly one of the heaviest tracks on the album is “Saboteur,” featuring downtuned riffs that sound incredibly chunky. Even during the moodiest segments, a beautiful melancholic bassline grabs your attention, only to be interrupted by those downtuned guitar riffs that hit you like a punch in the face every time, ensuring that despite the song’s 9-minute length, time flies by. Towards the end, there’s another breakdown with heavy guitars and bass, and then, surprisingly, a riff that hits you like a freight train, reminiscent of APOCALYPTICA‘s rhythmic cello playing.
“Disciple” features a bit of cello again, which always fits brilliantly into WHEEL‘s music. Towards the end, there’s an interesting scream that sounds much like James at the beginning but then transforms into something very Devin Townsend-esque, a channeling of a style I’ve never heard James attempt before. While one of the shortest songs on the record, it’s full of surprises, with infamous polyrhythms and unexpected major chords taking the lead.
In our interview, James Lascelles described “Caught in the Afterglow” as needing to sound human, allowing every pick scrape and nuance, even mistakes, to shine through. Despite being only a short intro to “The Freeze,” it reminded me of ’70s prog and I was thrilled by that association as a longtime YES fan. It beautifully sets the stage for “The Freeze,” one of my personal highlights on the record. The guitar tone in the final song has a timeless effect, warm and beautiful, while drummer Santeri Saksala delivers some intriguing moments, ranging from surprisingly minimal to incredibly intricate. There’s a particularly beautiful moment midway through where the band plays with silence, creating something truly intriguing that leads into possibly the best guitar solo of the record. And if you thought that was the only impressive solo, you’d be mistaken, as Santeri Saksala also gets a chance to shine and showcase his skills. Together, they provide a dynamic conclusion to the record.
All-in-all, ever since my introduction to WHEEL in 2018, the band has consistently thrown curveballs at me to the point where I’m almost taking it personally. Every time, they manage to surprise me, and just when you think a band couldn’t possibly get any better or top their previous release, WHEEL does it again and again. Once more, there are plenty of new experiments and elements to enjoy. For instance, I never knew that all I needed in life was for WHEEL to add some breakdowns into their songs. In our interview, James Lascelles described the album as “the best of both worlds of their two previous albums, combining the liveliness of ‘Resident Human’ with the density of ‘Moving Backwards,’ condensed into this big, evil-sounding mess.” Who am I to disagree with that statement? Sometimes, complicated and scary times in the world require an album that is a “big, evil-sounding mess” to listen to, and perhaps some may find solace in listening to this album to escape from the world’s chaos for a little while, especially when it’s a killer of an album that scores on every front!
Tracklist
1. Empire
2. Porcelain
3. Submission
4. Saboteur
5. Disciple
6. Caught in the Afterglow
7. The Freeze
Lineup
James Lascelles – vocals, guitar
Jussi Turunen – lead guitar
Santeri Saksala – drums
Label
InsideOut Music
