At eight tracks long Wildstreet’s new album ‘III’ (their second full length) isn’t exactly over-delivering. It’s been ten long years since their EP ‘II’ which came out three years after their 2008 debut when I first caught the band over in the US.
8 songs in ten years wouldn’t be too bad I suppose especially when you factor in a two and a half year hiatus before regrouping in 2016; but if you’ve been following the band over the last few years you’ll find that out of the eight tracks that make up ‘III’ there’s probably only one that you’re not familiar with, as the other seven have been released as singles between 2017 and this year. Indeed the oldest here – ‘Raise Hell’ dates back to 2017.
But it’ two of the best that open up ‘III’ – the rocking ‘Tenessee Cocaine’ and the Sleazy, catchy mid-tempo ‘Three Way Ride’ both from 2019. The hypnotic ‘Set It Off’ released earlier this year follows before we delve back to 2020 for the box-ticking rather radio-friendly ballad ‘Still Love You.’
‘Midnight Children’ might just be the only thing new here to fans and it’s an interesting one, leaning more as it does towards Metal, and which has an almost NWOBHM edge and a touch of ‘Under the Blade’ era Twisted Sister. It’s rather cool but I’ve no idea if it might be a new direction of just a nice oddity.
Last year’s ‘Born to Be’ adds a nice strut and groove before we reach back almost five years to the hard rocking Faster-Pussycat-like ‘Raise Hell’ (love that song!) and close with ‘Mother’ the dark and brooding epic seven minute single from May this year. If that last shot is a sign of things to come then we’re in for a real treat.
Wildstreet are one of those bands that have been with us for a long while and if you’ve seen them live you’ll have seen a band made for the stage. With a career reaching the 15 year milestone this year though, you can’t but help but wonder where they could have been had they only released more material especially as everything that’s come so far has been so damned good. Let’s hope that this collection of singles from the last few years is just clearing the way for a glorious new release and bright future. Wildstreet on the basis of this release is far more than just an 80’s revivalist hard rock band.
7.5/10