One of the joys of living in northwest New Jersey is the surprising natural elements and spaces an easy drive away. Tucked away in the woods is the famous Lakota Wolf Preserve, where you can get a guided tour and see up-close-and-personal how cooperative and smart the wolf pack is. It’s impressive to witness and realize the animals—while certainly containing the capacity for ferocity—are way more afraid of humans than legend has it. They are also absolutely stunning animals who care deeply about each other and strive for connection above all else.
In true pack form, Joyous Wolf share a clear appreciation for each member of the band and a desire to squeeze the most out of every song. In Between, out now via Blue Grape Music, isn’t a debut, though it combines the glee for camaraderie with an impressive sense of clarity, channeling a sound that feels like a combination of Audioslave, Alter Bridge, and something older—big riffs, solos, massive hooks, and a warm sound that begs to be heard on a large outdoor space where you can feel the bass from the grass. That sense of togetherness is essential for Joyous Wolf, as guitarist Blake Allard states:
“One of the best parts of this band is that everyone feels like they are a part of everyone else’s instrument with no ego whatsoever. No one has a problem taking ideas or criticism because at the end of the day, we are a single unit. The drummer has as much say on the guitar solo as the bassist does on a vocal cadence. There are no punches below the belt, and we have found that to forever and always be the healthiest and most productive method of creating music.
“The only rule I would say we had was, it had to pass a listener test. If we could write a song idea front to back, and listen back to it, and not get bored, we kept working on it. A lot of times, we would think something is cool because it was fun to play. I’m not saying that this is wrong, but that cool part has to have its place in a song; otherwise, it might not be a great piece or very enjoyable to listen to for a full three to sometimes seven minutes. Marrying hooks with riffs is definitely one of the most fun parts, but for our process I would say the most fun is when someone comes up with a song idea on the spot; everyone adds their part on the spot, and all of a sudden, we are all instantly hooked and excited to finalize something brand new.”
In Between is out now on Blue Grape Music. Get it here.
Photo courtesy of Niko Manwarren
