Wunderhorse: Cub

The 2022 debut from Jacob Slater's band Wunderhorse is next up for review, this album was one of my favourites from last year. Hopefully this review tells you why.

Side A opens with 'Butterflies' probably the albums most atmospheric track, which really showcases Slater's lyrics. A former frontman of a punk band, this song showcases a much different side to Jacob Slater, it sound's more like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell than 'Anarchy in the UK.' It's a perfect album opener. 'Leader of the Pack' is the next track, complete with its nod to 'Sweet Home Alabama' in it's riff, this song is less atmospheric and much more snarling, harking back to Jacob's punk roots, yet it has a poppy catchy chorus. It's almost grunge like in sound, and it's brilliant a true fan favourite. 'Purple' is track three and this is my favourite on the album. The chorus is amazing and the song manages to carry Jacob Slater's words perfectly, it's quite hard to pinpoint a sound down on this track it's a mixture of sounds, that create this unique rock record. A brilliant alternative love song, and a true album highlight. 'Altanis' follows 'Purple' and it is very punk like in places with snarling guitars. Elliot Smith is definitely a reference on this song especially with the lyrics, its another amazing song, and is very different to everything else that is out there at the moment. I cannot think of another 'Indie' artist who sounds like this. '17' is a song that just seems ti build and build, where the instrumentation becomes the centrepiece, especially the guitars and drums. It sounds a lot like Fontaines DC and I mean that as a huge compliment. If I had to describe Wunderhorse, it's a middle ground between Fontaines DC and Sam Fender. 'Teal' ends Side A and it's a snarling, riff heavy song. It also happens to be the most streamed song by the band. 'Teal' is one of the darkest songs on the album, and see's Slater dip back into his punk past especially in his vocal delivery. They aren't trying to reinvent the wheel and they don't need to. The songs are brilliant and beautiful and we are only halfway through.

Side B opens with 'Poppy' which is very Progressive in sound, a song about choosing which path you go down, written by a man who has completely changed the path he was going down as well as changing his musical sound. It's written by a man who is growing into himself, and it makes for an extremely interesting listen. 'Poppy' is a true showcase of what Wunderhorse can do, as well as where they can go!  'Mantis' is the next track on Side B it reminds me a lot of Blur post Britpop as well as Radiohead, it's a very 90s sounding song. Very different to anything else on the album and it is a welcome change of pace. 'Girl Behind the Glass' is again a different sound, but it's not complex, it's snarling guitars and drums and then soft acoustics with a beautifully delivered chorus. The verses sound like grunge and the chorus, is almost angelic. Quite a juxtaposition. 'Morphine' is the albums penultimate track and the albums longest track, which again showcases Slater's brilliant story telling, the instrumentation is used to tie the brilliant lyrics together.  Another album highlight. The album ends with 'Epilogue'  We see the punk side again later in the song, with a huge vocal and guitar crescendo which can take the listener by surprise, it's a snarling masterpiece. Where Cub is a record that see's Jacob Slater find himself and embrace new songs, it ends with him looking back to his punk past... 

Cub is one of those records that you need to listen to really appreciate just how good it is!

Thank you for reading x