The YouTube channel NWOTHM Full Albums really is home to some great new bands. I’ve found a few bands that I listen to through that page – like Haunt, Spell, Konquest, and Riot City. And what’s cool about it is that the page gets new material pretty consistently. So, a few hidden gems are bound to be hiding in their playlists somewhere. One of the more recent discoveries I’ve made is a two-piece from Ecuador called Ripperwölf. Their 20-minute “Prepare for Attack” EP popped up in my recommended feed and I gave it a listen. And, oh fuck, I was not prepared for this attack!

So, first things first, the EP’s cover art is, honestly, just okay. I feel like this works better as an image for the lyric booklet you’d typically find in CD cases. Not much about it really pops out. Like, compare this to say Spell’s “Tragic Magic” or Haunt’s “If Icarus Could Fly”. Both of those albums have better cover art, using somewhat similar color palettes. Those album covers stick out for their detail and use of color. Granted there are albums with worse artwork than this (see Six Feet Under’s discography). But, to me, this EP kinda lacks that visual appeal. 

(If this EP had artwork similar to, say, the Rohirrim charge at Helms Deep from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, I think it would stand out more in terms of visuals.)

However, looks can be deceiving. I’d argue that what’s more important about an album’s look is its sound. And yeah, this EP fuckin’ delivers on its sound. Right from the opening note, the EP hits you with a heavy/thrash guitar blend with heavy/power-style vocals. Vocalist and guitarist Chezz “RWölf” lays down killer vocals, riffs, and harmonies throughout each track! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible solos of Sage Savage and the drumming of Andree Insane! Their contributions help give this EP a good amount of power.

The first two songs blend elements of heavy, thrash, and power metal into an incredible audial assault. “No Time to Die”, the third track, leans more towards being straight-up heavy metal in the vein of Haunt. Then, “Speed of the Light” picks the pace up, with swift heavy metal riffs and high-flying solos and harmonies. It feels both old-school and fresh simultaneously, which is a great thing. The last track is a cover of Night Demon’s “Full Speed Ahead”. As is my take on covers, if you like the original, you’ll probably enjoy the cover. 

What I really like about this EP is just how multi-faceted it is. There are elements of different genres, all blended together fantastically. On top of that, the production sounds crisp and clear, even for an independent release. I think that this EP shows that Ripperwölf has some good potential, and being listed on NWOTHM is a step in the right direction. I can’t really think of any other metal bands from Ecuador, so hopefully, this release helps spur some action there. 

I’m really excited to see where Ripperwölf goes from here. Maybe they can even come up to North America for Hells Heroes or a similar festival? Then again, I may have found one more reason to visit Ecuador! Regardless, I wish them nothing but the best!