Mental illness is insidious. There’s no two ways about it. Whatever affliction falls under that umbrella has the ability to change everything about a person. Those living with it soon become a shadow of their former selves with a dark passenger. Bristol based Haunted By Wolves shed light on their darkness with new single ‘Devil Inside Me’.
‘Devil Inside Me’ rises from the pits of Hell to a haunting intro full of vocals echoing across the void. As the devil takes its shape from the amalgamation of broken souls, the guitars sound lavishly brooding. Luke Smith and Xander Hamilton’s morose vocals trade off in their misery. The work Hamilton specifically has put into his voice over the course of Haunted By Wolves pays off with ‘Devil Inside Me’. The pain which stabs us through his voice is unlike any other. Pairing this with Smith’s natural nu-core infused soul serves the band so well. As each man tells of his private torture, the lyrics become increasingly evocative. With one in four of us experiencing a mental health issue in our lifetime, Haunted By Wolves expose the “broken home” we house within.
Striking the emotional chord with a sledgehammer, Haunted By Wolves manage to verbalise the physical sensation of depression as a “shake from the ache in my bones”. Feeling the Dementors sucking the vitality from them, the guitars become the hands of the Redeemer. Pulling us down into the River Styx, we are quickly consumed by the souls of the fellow damned. Screams from James Holt sound like the dying wishes of those who’s threads are about to be severed by the Fates.
‘Devil Inside Me’ is wonderfully haunting, settling into the crevices of the brain as deeply as unresolved trauma. From the first listen alone, expect to be riddled with earworm worthy vocal hooks and a melody that will have you believing you never want to be rid of the dark passenger.
‘Devil Inside Me’ is available across all streaming platforms. For the latest news from the Haunted By Wolves camp, including new releases and tour dates, follow their social media linked below.
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