by Stephen Joyce
In his majorly compelling autobiography, “My Effin’ Life”, Geddy Lee interestingly pointed out that “the more influences an individual assimilates and adapts to their personality, the closer they get to defining a unique style and sound that can be rightfully deemed as their own.” These thought-provoking sentiments by the ex-bassist of Rush could easily be associated with Wheel, a three-member band from Helsinki, Finland, established in 2015.
It’s undeniable that Wheel’s music is steeped in progressive metal traditions, yet they possess a musical identify that stands out as distinct and unique. Lovers of bands such as Porcupine Tree, Leprous, Haken, Opeth, Metallica, and yes, even Tool, will certainly find elements they enjoy. However, Wheel’s music evidently surpasses these comparative influences.
“Charismatic Leaders” is the third album from Wheel, succeeding their 2019’s first album “Moving Backwards” and 2020’s “Resident Human”. This album purposely leans more towards ‘metal’, featuring a variety of musical creativity and exceptional TUNES above everything else. Although it doesn’t exactly define as a concept album, the songs delve into the phenomenon of personality cult that has blighted western politics lately. The lyrics, with their sharpness, certainly provoke thoughts. “Charismatic Leaders” is set to become a significant achievement for Wheel and will likely be featured in ‘album of the year’ lists across the globe by music enthusiasts.
The album begins with “Empire,” capturing interest with its exhilarating pace intermixed with deep, bass-heavy verses. Its powerful coda, “You’ll Reap What You Sow,” argues against the media empire of Rupert Murdoch, delivering a genuinely moving finish to a thrilling four-minute introduction that leaves you eagerly anticipating the rest of the album.
The next song is “Porcelain” and it excellently embodies the exceptional quality of this album over its seven-minute duration: it features music that is moving, inspiring, and seamlessly transitions between instances of pure elegance and intense harshness. This song is a vocal masterclass, with singer James Lascelles delivering ‘clean’ vocals in “Charismatic Leaders” and extracting vast passion and emotion from his voice and dark yet understandable lyrics. His voice resonates with a profound sense of heart, soul, and ferocity, provoking a wide range of emotions in the listener.
The third track, “Submission”, is almost an eleven-minute journey. The complex interplay of melody and rhythm among the three band members is distinctly noticeable in this piece. It’s a track containing various powerful musical concepts that are immensely well-organised, transition smoothly, and maintain your focus with some genuinely exciting music, particularly in the exciting final minute. It’s an extraordinary song and my top pick from the album.
The fourth track, “Saboteur,” might be the most intense song on the album. Its nine-minute duration gives Wheel the opportunity to demonstrate their expert handling of unique riffs, memorable tunes, and daring range. The lyrics, “Hypocrite, Charlatan,” have a sharp potency that lingers in memory, and the guitar performance is especially impressive in this song.
Adding to their exceptional presentations, the guitarists Lascelles and Jussi Turunen have some of the most exquisite guitar sounds I have ever heard, typical of the audio brilliance of this album. With the help of engineers and co-producers Daniel Bergstrand and Fredrik Thordendal, the mix, finalized by Forrester Savell, results in a rich, mesmerizing auditory experience. Each powerful riff, subtle note, drum beat, and vocal nuance is offered with complete clearness and a sound warmth that provides a truly engaging listening journey.
The fifth track, “Disciple,” is a precisely coordinated four-minute tune with a remarkable Lascelles vocal and guitar riffs. The song, filled with energetic double-kick drumming, is exhilarating. One can only imagine how incredible it would sound in a live concert.
The sixth song is a brief yet delightfully unnerving acoustic guitar pause, proficiently establishing the tone for the final track on the album, “The Freeze”. This piece, lasting ten minutes, conveys the immobility and despair experienced by many when they witness horrifying events happening far away. The song constructs a disconcerting ambience by adding layers of threat and mystique, proving that just when you believe it cannot escalate any further in its grandeur, it indeed does!
Santeri Saksala, the drummer, releases a barrage of drumbeats that is a complete sensory attack. Starting from the resonant hi-hat in the middle of the track to the apocalyptic beatings that signal the goosebump-inducing final part, it’s clear you’re experiencing a master at work. Saksala’s performances on this album are marked by force, technical prowess, rhythm, subtleness, heaps of expression, and most importantly, unparalleled musicality. His drumming in the last two minutes of “The Freeze” recall the magnificent skill of the late, renowned Neil Peart’s performances on Rush’s 2112 Finale and Cygnus X1 – a comparison that could not be more flattering.
Surprisingly, Wheel effectively steers clear of the self-absorption that can often affect progressive metal music. They avoid overdoing solos and make sure that each moment is significant. The seven excellently created songs maintain total listener involvement. The 47-minute runtime flies by, prompting you to play the album again to relive the whole experience. Much like a lot of outstanding albums, “Charismatic Leaders” rewards numerous plays by unveiling additional subtleties, artistry and melodious tunes that penetrate deep into your psyche and persistently resist leaving.
The wheel, a transformative invention of early humanity, changed the world. Similarly, the band Wheel may revolutionize our music-listening preferences. Their album “Charismatic Leaders” demands reverence, faithfulness, and unwavering loyalty. In a time when genuine charismatic leaders are noticeably absent, don’t lose hope; Wheel might just hold the solution. Take comfort in their excellent music!
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InsideOutMusic launched this on May 3rd, 2024.
Visit the link https://wheelband.lnk.to/CharismaticLeaders.
The complete list of tracks is as follows:
1. Empire 04:20
2. Porcelain 07:12
3. Submission 10:46
4. Saboteur 09:01
5. Disciple 04:12
6. Trapped in the Afterglow 01:12
7. The Freeze 10:35
Line-up
James Lascelles is on vocals and guitar.
Jussi Turunen / primary guitarist
Mikko Määttä / bass guitarist
Santeri Saksala / drums
