Wolves Like Us formed from the remnants of a handful of respected Norwegian hardcore bands, and the four-piece outfit's first release presents them as a more polished version of ‘90s American post-hardcore acts like
Drive Like Jehu, though the presence of an
Afghan Whigs cover in "My Enemy" hints at a more subtle melodic sensibility. Unfortunately,
Late Love never sounds as much like a sum of its influences as it does a watered down imitation. Opening track "Burns Like a Paper Rose" starts the album off in fine form with choppy rhythms, a fine arpeggio sequence, and Lars Kristensen's deep Southern rock-like howl, while "Deathless" and "Sin After Sin" offer a bit more a grungey feel. However, despite the best efforts of drummer Jonas Thire, the sound quickly becomes formulaic. The riffs are bland and disposable and Kristensen's vocals, reminiscent at first of
Greg Dulli, lack both the soulful variety and tonal variation of the
Afghan Whigs chief. It's telling that "My Enemy" is the most energetic track on the album as it overshadows all of the original material, and by the time eight-minute closer "To Whore with Foreign Gods" shakes up the recipe a little, it's too late to properly redeem an otherwise single-paced album. ~ Dave Donnelly