Release date: 1st October 2021
Wage War is one of those bands that is just consistently good. I discovered them with their previous album, Pressure, but all their releases are excellent. There’s a clear evolution from one album to the next, with each being a solid release, and Manic, which is Wage War’s fourth album, is their strongest offering yet.
First track Relapse is a mighty opener, featuring a quick buildup into a powerful wall of guitars. The chorus is infectiously catchy, and you can’t help but want to sing along to it – it’s a very emotive and colourful delivery, and is one of those songs destined to be stuck in your head for days after listening to it. I know I’ve been humming the melody to myself about the house the past few days, at least!
Fourth track High Horse and fifth track Circle The Drain, both of which were previously released as singles, sit perfectly together. High Horse is on the heavier, more aggressive side of Wage War’s sound, whilst Circle The Drain favours the melodic side. The two juxtapose against each other so well, and it’s clear why the two were released as singles, as they serve as a good insight into the band’s sound and the variety you can expect from Manic.
Album closer If Tomorrow Never Comes is a bit of a callout to the closing track from their previous album, Will We Ever Learn – it’s one of those beautifully-delivered and highly emotional tracks that Wage War do so perfectly, whilst simultaneously packing a massive punch courtesy of the harsh vocals and heavy instrumentation. Wage War bring every element of their sound into this final song to create a huge and impactful closer, and the songwriting is simply masterful – it’s one of those tracks that stays with you for a long time after you’ve finished listening to it, which is perfect to close an album with.
When it comes to impactful albums, Wage War have definitely delivered with Manic. In my opinion, it serves as their best album to date, and it’s going to be really exciting to see these tracks in a live environment. Make sure you check this one out!
UK DATES:
11 March – Guildhall, Portsmouth
12 March – O2 Academy Leeds
13 March – O2 Academy Birmingham
15 March – Academy Dublin
16 March – O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester
18 March – O2 Academy Liverpool
19 March – O2 Academy Glasgow
21 March – Rock City Nottingham
22 March – O2 Academy Bristol
23 March – O2 Academy Brixton
