Merwulf – In The Golden Age

When someone mentions indie rock, what comes to your mind first? Beautiful vocal harmonies, catchy guitar works, lush synths, intricate synths, and groovy beats? Well, that should be a blueprint for perfect indie music, but we are living in an age where some artists and bands either over-experiment with various genres or release straightforward indie songs that mimic what renowned acts recorded and released decades ago. Although many music outlets release their works on a daily basis, the indie scene might seem a bit stale, repetitive, and bland to inexperienced ears. But, as is usually the case, there are also the bands who found a sweet spot between experiementation and roots, offering a one-of-a-kind listening experience that never lean into predictability and repetition. Merwulf, a Portland-based trio, has a knack for writing and recording compositions that will leave you speechless. With “In the Golden Age,” they’ve created a comprehensive collection of catchy, memorable, engaging songs that will definitely tackle all your senses. Lyrically, explores various sentiments, moods, situations, and circumstances, making this album a highly relatable material that will immediately resonate with the crowd. The bands dive deep into love, loss, political unease, and the tension of continuing daily life while the ground feels unsteady, so it’s safe to say that “In the Golden Age” balances socio-political themes perfectly. Although “In the Golden Age” dominantly shines with an indie rock sound, as the band incorporated all the fundamental elements of this music genre, do not be surprised if you stumble upon some of the finest properties borrowed from post-punk, punk rock, synthwave, alternative, etc. It’s safe to say that “In the Golden Age” sometimes leans much more towards post-punk and punk rock sound, but there are all those vital elements of indie rock that keep this material loyal to the primary sonic direction. It also perfectly balances all the elements that meet trends in modern music production with subtle touches of nostalgia, so “In the Golden Age” is an album that will not only appeal to longtime indie fans but also newbies to the genre.

This epic sonic journey commences with “NT2BC,” a perfect introductory piece that seamlessly blends catchy, memorable, engaging synth leads and themes with powerful basslines. You’ll immediately notice that Merwulf does not use guitars in their songs, and it’s not like they need any because synths and basslines sound perfectly fine on their own. Paired with the exceptional drumming, the band sets the tone for the entire material, which gets even better with each upcoming song. “The Mountain Lion” is a standoutpiece that carries a slightly darker tone, leaning more into post-punk sound while retaining that indie rock and synthwave catchiness. The marvelous, soulful, passionate vocal performance carries that riot grrrl power by balancing melody with the aggression flawlessly. The additional vocal layers and back vocals bring more detail, depth, and an anthemic vibe. “The Gulf Of America” continues at the same pace, but here,  Merwulf blends aggression with melody even better, with all those vividly hearable, tastefully distorted, intricate low-end notes contributing tremendous heaviness, clarity, and depth while the synths deliver melody through leads, themes, melodies, harmonies, and other sonic maneuvers. The rhyhtmic patterns, based upon steady beats, breaks, fills, and accentuations,  keep the band in line while dictating the groove and pace. Merwulf are pros in delivering that dark and intense sound to the table, and “Snowflake” exemplifies their ability to create such an unsettling post-punk ambience where each vocal, sonic, and rhyhtmic maneuver has its place and purpose. But the balance between melody and power is their top priority, and songs like “Tech Bros” and “Francois” are perfect examples of how all those colossal basslines blend perfectly with calm, soothing, relaxing keys. “Larry Like To Fight” carries almost that art-rock quality, something legendary bands such as DEVO perfected over the years, but the band also incorporates fundamental elements of riot grrrl during each segment, making this composition such a unique piece that defines Merwulf’s creativity. Compositions like “Generic,” “Strike Gold,” and “Want The Laugh” are some of the finest indie and synthwave songs you’ll stumble upon this year. With all those well-accentuated rhyhtmic patterns, lush synths, abrasive basslines, and beautiful vocal harmonies, this band showcases how these longstanding genres can still sound so fresh and experimental while simultaneously staying true to the roots. This marvelous album comes to an end with “Grief Song #2,” a beautiful ballad where vocals and synths create an intimate atmosphere, like the band performs in your living room. It’s a perfect closure that will immediately force you to spin “In the Golden Age” all over again.

“In the Golden Age” is everything you ever needed from an indie rock album. It’s packed with all those fundamental elements, but also carries so many sonic ingredients borrowed from post-punk, punk rock, synthwave, and alternative. Merwulf has created a comprehensive collection of catchy, memorable, captivating songs that not only examine what makes us human but also tackle socio-political themes. “In the Golden Age” is a cleverly assembled and flawlessly performed album, created by three experienced, knowledgeable, creative musicians, and you should immediately check out this masterpiece if you love your indie rock smart, complex, and beautiful.