This single was released on June 27, so it is out on all platforms now.
My excuse for being tardy on the review is that it has been so damn hot recently, I’m the intern at the magazine and I decided to spend a couple of days suntanning my bod on the beach! So, I am now home and can’t sleep due to how humid it is, and what better way to spend the midnight hour than listening to the new Wailing Banshee single, as they are a band we always watch out for in the magazine—as they are fast becoming a damn good rock band!
Vocals—Dani Louise
Guitars—Al McKenzie
Guitars—Harry Darbyshire
Bass—Richie Parkhouse
Drums—Sean Murphy
My press pack tells me:
The words of Sages and the sins of the father. With ‘His Dark Materials,’ Wailing Banshee brings the whisper and the thunder, combining their NWOBHM inspired sound with modern prog elements. The track explores the historic waste of life and purging of history and culture by organized religion. It’s a song about no matter how much we step forward as a species, we always seem to regress back into a cycle of manipulation and corruption. The epic harmony guitar intro subsides quickly to show a more raw and vulnerable side to the band, followed by the track’s gradual crescendo into its heavy metal climax to show both the light and the dark of the song’s themes.
Combining old-school sound with an infectious, fiery energy and fierce female vocals, Wailing Banshee are quickly rising in the UK Music scene, having gained a dedicated following since the release of their debut EP ‘Fight To Be Free,’ in 2024. With thunderous drums and masterful twin guitars, the five-piece band spearheads a traditional metal revival, captivating audiences across the UK with their high-energy performances.
The proof, of course, is in the pudding—I like that phrase and am pleased to have sneaked it in!
Here is my review.
5.30 minutes for the track gives it the time to explore textures of sound. The vocals of Dani show off their range and power and the guitar sound on this one is really interesting for its use of light and shade. It is a song that sounds like it wants to be connected into a wider concept; it’s almost a prelude in feel and breaks into a charge midsection in every sense—it feels like a musical stampede! The guitars in this section create a musical storm, well done!
So, is Wailing Banshee ready to squeeze the lemon of success with this one?
Absolutely—and it’s dripping with the kind of juice that stains your soul. His Dark Materials is a statement of intent. It howls, it burns, and it refuses to be ignored.
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You can stream music by Wailing Banshee here
By Tracy Nash