Watching Wolves - 'traveller', single review

Don't let the cover art for this single fool you. 'Traveller', from Sydney-based band watching wolves, is not the tranquil, calm track it appears to be. Intense screams rain down on us from the very first vocalization in this intensely fierce, emotive and aggressive tune. The first half of verse one is primarily full of impactful harsh vocals, only receiving a brief reprieve in the middle. The chorus is a beautiful, anthemic melody. The mix between harsh and ethereal vocals will carry you through the track, keeping listeners engaged.

Watching wolves have described the track as "a cathartic release of grief and longing, written from a place of raw and unfiltered loss". With that kind of description, you know this track is going to take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Reid Brownhill discussed the story behind the track, letting listeners know that it is written about the loss of his own brother and his internal questioning of whether things were meant to be this way, or whether there could have been another course. He stated that "traveller follows the hope that maybe there's still a piece of him that is reachable and a desperation to be reunited at the end". Apart from being a brilliant track, it is an incredibly personal and vulnerable story that's been shared with us. The devastating reality of this message is reflected in the way it is screamed out throughout the track.

Traveller sets fast-paced drums against screams to strengthen and escalate the emotional impact of the lyrics. Rapid electric guitar is brought in to further build up the emotional rush felt as the track progresses. With lyrics like "falling in parallels, endlessly dreaming in circles; slip through the sheets of reality to where time and matter fall between" you'll feel the message and the beat intertwine. Reid, Kyle and Hayden of watching wolves have truly developed an emotional, hard-hitting and dynamic track with this latest release. Here at Hot and Heavy we love supporting up and coming Australian acts and it's exciting to see another band coming out of my hometown of Sydney, Australia, with such confidence and passion.

Checking out the bands 'inspirations' playlist we can see tracks from dayseeker, Polaris, currents and architects. After listening to their music you can hear the inspiration coming through. If you're a fan of the above bands, as well as fellow Aussie bands such as Northlane, then watching wolves will be a worthy addition to your playlist!

For merch, upcoming concert information and all things watching wolves click here.