Cosmic Egg

When I first heard Wolfmother several years ago I knew that they were more than just another seventies revivalist hard rock band. In 2005, the Australian hard rock trio of Stockdale, Chris Ross and Miles Heskett were catapulted to international fame after the release of their hugely successful self-titled debut album. Being constantly compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, it is unusual for Wolfmother to be particularly original.

The departure of Ross and Heskett in 2008 due to a number of personal and musical differences left a lingering question mark over the future of the band. Stockdale, now leading Wolfmother as a four-piece band, at first glance seems to deliver the same quality as he has done in the past. Saying this, however, fans of the first album might not be so easily persuaded.

Cosmic Egg kicks off to a flying start with the lead track ‘California Queen’. Stockdale’s fast-paced guitar and punkish drawl makes this track almost impossible not to like. The next few tracks proceed in much the same way. It is clear at this point that Wolfmother have developed something they had previously lacked, which might be called a sense of groove. Previous hits like ‘Witchcraft’ lacked any real flare in the rhythm section, but the band has come back with more confidence in this respect. Eventually though, there comes a point where everything seems to have gone horribly wrong.

By the time you get to the seventh track ‘Cosmic Egg’, anyone who isn’t completely devoted to hard rock will likely be sick of the fiddly guitar solos and punchy riffs which are beginning to merge into one. There is the occasional break from what has essentially become one generic rock song for a grand total of one track. The melodic ‘Far Away’ is certainly a highlight of the album, but it’s downhill from there. It is almost impossible to tell any of the next tracks apart.

All things considered, this album is proof that it really is possible to have too much of a good thing. There are some brilliant guitar tracks, but anyone wishing to avoid being put off hard rock altogether would be advised to listen to Cosmic Egg one track at a time. If you’re not a devoted hard rock fan, or can’t stand Led Zeppelin, it’s probably better to avoid this one altogether. Wolfmother lack the diversity of their previous album, and seem to have become just another generic hard rock band.