Review: Beta Wolf "Slaybell Sessions" and "Live In Danbury"

Modern rock

A fine way to close out the year, modern rockers Beta Wolf have released two new EPs: "Live in Danbury", containing 5 tracks that capture the band live, and the three-song "The Slaybell Sessions", to brighten your holiday season.

This is a quick release for the band in response to the success of their new video for “Domino,” which features footage from their Danbury, Connecticut, show opening up for Daughtry (see it here). Hearing the band live gives me a whole new appreciation for their energy and chemistry together - excellent.

To help put listeners into the holiday spirit, "The Slaybell Sessions" is a collection of upbeat, acoustic-based interpretations of Christmas classics "Happy Xmas (War is Over)", "Jingle Bell Rock," and "White Christmas."

These EPs arrive hot on the heels of their acclaimed Just Before Morning debut EP (reviewed here).

Beta Wolf - Official site.

Review: Beta Wolf “Just Before Morning” [EP]

Rock

Now on tour with Daughtry, the Los Angeles-based alternative rock band, Beta Wolf, is poised to hit the big time. Their new EP, “Just Before Morning” dropped July 31 (Congregation Records), the follow-up to their first international album, “Dark Days”, which was released exclusively in Japan through JVC/Victor Records in October 2011 and climbed to No. 51 on the international charts. Beta Wolf consists of lead vocalist and songwriter Grant Arnow, lead guitarist Sergio Ruelas, rhythm guitarist Devon Pangle, drummer Chester Lang, and bassist Rocko McIvor. "The album is a combination of a ballad, a heavy song, and some mid-tempo tracks," says Beta Wolf’s lead vocalist, Grant Arnow. "We wanted to make something that flowed consistently together. We focus on an album as a whole rather than on a single track.”

The five tracks on “Just Before Morning” were produced and mixed by Fred Archambault (Avenged Sevenfold).The first single is the title track, a stunning song co-written with Dan Wilson (Adele, Semisonic). “Just Before Morning” is a gorgeous pop rock song, with engaging verses and a chorus that sticks in your head instantly. Arnow is a vocalist that really knows how to wrap a melody around the lyrics, and the lofty falsetto at the end of the chorus is icing on the cake. Another thing I appreciate about Beta Wolf is their incorporation of tasty guitar solos, which has become a bit of a lost art these days. “Domino” is another terrific modern rocker that features vocals from each band member, mostly in the form of well-placed harmonies. Another standout is “Who’s Holding On To You”, a sizzling song with a danceable rhythm and unshakable melody. The closer is the most ferocious in the bunch, a ballsy never-say-die anthem called “Last Man Standing”.

All praise Beta Wolf – this band just gets it. Awesome vocals, thoughtful lyrics, masterful musicianship, and memorable songs. There isn’t a bad track among the five, and I think it’s a safe bet that “Just Before Morning” will be making my best of 2012 list.

Beta Wolf – Official site.