Metal Planet Review of Rebel's Journey by Taf Rock
“Birmingham based blues rock combo Big Wolf Band are celebrating their first decade together. It’s turning into quite a year for the band too as the pack of followers swells in numbers fuelled by their most extensive tour across the UK which even migrated across to Europe for the first time, plentiful radio airplay has help them garner recognition leading to a second consecutive nomination for the UK Blues Band of the Year.”
“Sit down put your feet up and prepare to have your breath taken away by the Big Wolf symphony orchestra. Standing in the Rain is a masterpiece. The highlight of this whole album. 7 minutes and 24 seconds of sheer blues excellence. And yet it nearly did not make the cut. Jonathan wanted to ditch it but thankfully the other members of the pack made him see sense and here in all its glory is a song near to Jonathan’s heart. Often battling mental health and depression issues the song describes how despite knowing and feeling you are loved you somehow feel distant and separated from reality. The guitar here is reminiscent of the great Gary Moore. It’s safe to say this track is more than good enough to happily rub shoulders and stand up tall next to the Belfast legends greatest songs. A sorrowful almost mourning guitar introduces the track and it’s evident from the off we have something special on our hands here. Justin’s rhythm guitar, Jones drum fills and Jeynes bass providing a solid foundation whilst Jonathan’s guitar soars and climbs above the deep depression detailed in the lyrics. Fox keys gently bring us down to earth as he accompanies Jonathan’s pleas for help. ‘Do you hear me crying … at your door … won’t you open it up … let me in’. Even his glorious vocal has a shade of Gary Moore about it on this particular track. Zoe Green’s backing vocals the icing on this delicious cake. The track ebbs and flows as the guitar once again soars above us and drenches us in blues which permeates every fibre of our body just like the ‘pouring rain’ of depression can envelope and consume the unwary individual. This isn’t just a song, it’s a composition – written to be led by Jonathan’s emotionally charged guitar which leads and conducts the rest of the band in an orchestral manner, at times I can almost sense a string section playing alongside the pack. A masterpiece of music and songwriting with beautifully crafted lyrics. ‘In these stormy seas I’m sailing all alone’ Jonathan really gets the emotions across to the listener before the Big Wolf symphony orchestra takes your breath away with a quite stunning and beautiful instrumental section. Emotional and moving – music doesn’t get much better than this.”
Full Review HERE