Nothing new from Finland: two years ago THE WAKE made their debut with their album Ode To Misery. It was already a solid matter but nonetheless lacking some more own ideas. Certainly circumstances you can excuse for a debut album but of course no apologize for petrifaction.
This is exactly what the four gents are in with her new album Death-A-Holic. Their craftsmanship is well done and there are lots of nice melodies in the new tracks but if you compare it with their first CD you will hardly recognize any evolution. Actually this would be okay if there weren’t lots of other bands on this planet who are practicing precisely the same style...
As a result of this it is impossible to distinguish THE WAKE from any other band of this style. They are lacking, especially because it is already their second CD, an outstanding profile or any other circumstances which could classify them as different to the many others. Regarding their guts it should be possible to deliver much more. Of course, some tracks like Rejected, Downward Groove or Nailgun are really bad-ass which could delight metal core fans with their melodic quality. Nevertheless there are not enough highlights and changes, not regarding the already mentioned weaknesses.
Resuming I feel forced to give them in this case a point less than the last time, although the music hasn’t changed. Hopefully THE WAKE will find for their third album something really new.