After more lineup changes,
Wolfmother emerges with its fourth proper album. Guitarist, frontman, and songwriter
Andrew Stockdale remains the only founding member. On
Victorious, he plays all guitars and basses, with hired studio drummers
Josh Freese and
Joey Waronker, and
Ian Peres on keyboards. This collection attempts to expand on the scope of the swaggering, bluesy hard rock of the band's first two albums. It was recorded in Hollywood with producer
Brendan O'Brien. There are moments here that touch on the unabashed energy and swagger of
Wolfmother's past. Opener "The Love That You Give" contains an over the top hard rock riff that gives way to equally strident psychedelia, with a nice textural touch in the guitar interplay. Second single "Gypsy Caravan," with its
Robert Plant-style vocal and
Simon Robinson-esque production (
Deep Purple à la
Machine Head), showcases massive organ chords that blitz a manically throbbing bassline that
Stockdale's voice roars over. The title track, with its chunky guitar vamp and slamming snare fills, also works well enough to warrant attention. ~ Thom Jurek