Artist: WOLVERINE
Album: "STILL (CD)"

Year: 2006
Media type: CD

- Swedish progressive, melodic metallers Wolverine release their fourth studio album on Candlelight! Wolverine is back and, strengthened by the new partnership with Candlelight Records, they are ready to release what the band sees as their finest piece of work to date.
- Recorded at Spacelab Studio, Germany, during the summer of 2005, “Still” is the eagerly awaited follow-up to the critically acclaimed “Cold Light Of Monday”. Although it is heavier than previous albums, it still retains the band’s knack for heartfelt and emotional song writing, combined with perfect performances.
- Don’t let the fact that these Swedes have death metal origins put you off investigating this album: Dark it most certainly is, but this is powerful, melodic and emotional music that puts the band right up with the best in the progressive metal genre!

A Progressively inclined Death Metal band rooted in the teenage act ARAKNOFOBIA. The genesis of WOLVERINE can be traced back to a thirteen year old drummer Marcus Losbjer and fifteen year old bassist Stefan Zell's enthusiasm for KISS records. Listening to the seventies Glam heroes inspired the duo to forge a band and before long guitarist Lars Johansson was part of the line-up. Stefan's brother Michael was involved for a short period until Christofer Doerksen joined in time for the band's first concert in April 1993.

Bjorn Renstrom was next in line for the guitar role for an inaugural demo. By December of the same year Henrik Johansson had taken Renstrom's position but ARAKNOFOBIA folded soon after. Henrik Johansson, Lars Johansson, Zell and Losbjer duly founded STORYTELLER, an act which soon evolved into EMPIRE, as the title suggests a band heavily inspired by the Seattle Metal pioneers. EMPIRE pulled in Andreas Axelsson on guitar but they too would fold. Meantime, Zell had set up a Progressive act PORNOGRAPHICAL HARMONY in union with his erstwhile ARAKNOFOBIA colleague Henrik Johansson. This band would subsequently evolve into BOOK OF HOURS.

In late 1994 Renstrom, Losbjer and Lars Johansson, with new bassist Tobias Bergkvist, re-assembled ARAKNOFOBIA. This new version of the band lasted for just one gig. It would be May 1995 that WOLVERINE, named after the Marvel comics character, was officially born with a line-up of Zell, Losbjer and Renstrom. WOLVERINE first performed on the live stage in March 1996. A demo, 'Land Of The Midnightsun', was soon cut and Michael Zell was recalled to aid on guitar.

Renstrцm would break ranks once more and later sadly died in a car accident in June 1997. WOLVERINE took Sami Maki on as their second guitar player to complete the band and the 'North' demo was issued in March of 1997. Tracks were also recorded for a projected compilation album to be released by the Portuguese Meathook label but this record never saw the light of day. Gigs toward the end of the year found keyboard player Mattias Tцrnell working with the band although his stay would be brief.

As 1998 broke Maki took his leave due to creative differences. WOLVERINE persevered laying down more demo recordings simply billed as 'Demo No. 3'. In down time Losbjer busied himself with side project UNSOLVED EXPERIENCE whilst Michael Zell performed with BOOK OF HOURS.

Bringing in guitarist Carl-Henrik Landegren WOLVERINE got back into gear contributing the track 'A Fairytale' to a compilation album entitled 'Heden Ceden'. Unfortunately for the band the tapes were pitched to the wrong speed thus lending Stefan Zell an unexpected Mickey Mouse type vocal!

Keyboard player Andreas Baglien joined the WOLVERINE roster in 1998, just in time to record a TV appearance for the SNT channel. The Per Ryberg produced 'Fervent Dream' demo tape then followed. The group would re-enter the studio soon after to donate their rendition of 'A Pleasant Shade Of Gray part 12' to a FATES WARNING tribute compilation.

In February 1999 WOLVERINE brought onboard C-H on guitar. Soon after the band landed a deal with the Dutch Zizania Entertainment Group label, re-recording the 'Fervent Dream' songs for CD release. Expanding their sound, WOLVERINE utilised studio musicians Kevin Sumner on didgeridoo, Elin Hedlund and Tuva Modeer on violin, Caroline Sjoberg on viola and cellist Helena Bohman. Promotion for the EP witnessed a performance at the Tilburg 'ProgPower' festival in Holland and the Belgian 'Mindview First Bloods' event, WOLVERINE's live debut outside of Sweden.

2000 brought yet more line up problems forcing the exit of C-H. An intended temporary stop gap was found in guitarist Per Broddesson, yet another member of the symphonic Rock band BOOK OF HOURS guitarist Per Broddesson, also citing credits with OBERON and THE DOOMSDAY CULT. However, after a batch of live shows Broddesson opted to quit BOOK OF HOURS and join WOLVERINE on a full time basis.

The German label Emerald Factory re-issued 'Fervent Dream' in April 2001 with two bonus tracks 'Time' and 'Resistance'. This release paved the way for the album 'The Window Purpose', produced by EVERON members Oliver Philipps and Christian Moos. Once the album was wrapped up disagreements betweem WOLVERINE and Emerald Factory caused a parting of the ways. The band soon signed the album up to the DVS label for release.

Stefan Zell decided to concentrate solely on lead vocals necessitating the recruitment of bass player Thomas Jansson for European dates. The recording of WOLVERINE's 2003 album 'Cold Light Of Monday', for new label Elitist, a subsidiary of Earache Records, did not go according to plan with the original tapes scrapped at the mixing stage. The band opted to re-record the entire album again. WOLVERINE parted ways with guitarist Per Broddesson in September, the departing musician opting to prioritise his other concern THE DOOMSDAY CULT.

WOLVERINE recorded their 2005 album 'Still' by tracking drums at Studio Soundcreation in Bollnas, Sweden with producer Per Ryberg and completing sessions at Spacelab Studios in Tonisvorst, Germany. However, the band split from Earache Records in December. By early the next year the band had found a new home at Candlelight Records.

TRACKLIST:

1. A House Of Plague
2. Bleeding
3. Taste Of Sand
4. Nothing More
5. Sleepy Town
6. Liar On The Mount
7. Hiding
8. This Cold Heart Of Mine
9. And She Slowly Dies

LINE-UP:

Stefan Zell (vocals / bass)
Mikael Zell (guitar)
Per Broddesson (guitar)
Per Henriksson (keyboards)
Marcus Losbjer (drums)

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