Werewolves – Die for Us (Review)

This is the fifth album from Australian death metallers Werewolves.

To say I’ve been looking forward to this is an understatement. Four albums in four years, and every one a winner; Werewolves are on fire. Can Die for Us – the fifth album in five years – be just as potent as the likes of 2022’s From the Cave to the Grave and 2023’s My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me?

In answer, please allow Werewolves to kick your stupid ungrateful teeth in, nine different ways, for 36 minutes. Die for Us rules.

Oh, it’s absolutely more of the same, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. The Werewolves sound is a perfect case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There’s no tinkering needed with this belligerent assault, no alteration to the band’s hyper aggressive merciless attack needed. If you know what Werewolves sound like, you know what Die for Us sounds like, and if you know what’s good for you you’ll love it just as much as I do.

The songs are savage and ruthless exemplars of blasting ferocity. There’s a blackened edge that drips with venom, and more brutality than one could reasonably expect to survive intact. Yes yes yes, there’s also finesse, skilled songwriting, a few different paces, and even some malevolent atmosphere, but ultimately Die for Us is a fierce ripper that demands unthinking violence and bone-breaking punishment.

The band’s attitude is off the scale and their confident swagger infects Die for Us throughout its relentless running time. Five albums deep into their ten-album target Werewolves know exactly what they’re doing, and do it with thoughtless expertise and careless excellence. Death metal runs in their blood, and they vomit their brutal ugliness on anyone (un)fortunate enough to be close to them.

Another corker of an album from Werewolves then. I haven’t even managed to get the stains out of the carpet from the last one, yet here they are again, showing up uninvited and making a colossal mess of the place. It’s hard to complain too much though when their boot is shoved down your throat. Just admit it; you love it and can’t get enough of it. I mean, it’s Werewolves! Who doesn’t love a good beating from them? Die for Us is hideously good fun, and any death metal fan should think themselves very lucky that they have the privilege of being on the receiving end of their ire.

Essential.