Album review: Written By Wolves – THE LIGHTHOUSE

The old adage ‘home is where the heart is’ feels incredibly relevant in Written By Wolves’ second album. THE LIGHTHOUSE's concept picks up where 2019’s Secrets left off. It brings closure to the darker themes explored there, and brings new stories of hope and the meaning of home outside of a physical place.

The quartet opt for a cinematic, spacey core to underpin this record, experimenting with dramatic synth work. Introduced on Adrift, it seeps into Give ’Em Hell, where videogame-like soundscapes smash right into WBW’s specific brand of modern rock. Right away, it feels as though this album is designed to be triumphant and defiant. Over the course of its 13 tracks, they run into short interludes which bridge songs together, seemingly a tool for that grandeur, conceptual feel – though one is only eight seconds long, and does feel a little unnecessary.

More impactful standouts come from Burn for its rigid, stomping rhythm, and the title-track, which cools things down a step. It delivers a gently crooned chorus, reiterating the call to action of looking for your own personal lighthouse or place of hope when in difficult times. Altar marks an assertive closure, with Michael Murphy protesting, ‘I won’t kneel at your altar, I’m not your soldier,’ it seemingly puts an end to an era of people pleasing and shares a tale of putting yourself first.

THE LIGHTHOUSE courageously takes its time in sharing its stories. Though sometimes lyrically it is a little cliched and its interlude tracks feel at times redundant, it still explores some touching themes of grief and growth, and feels textually engaging throughout. It’s always cool to see artists crafting concept records amid the age of streaming.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: Hands Like Houses, Too Close To Touch, Sleeping With Sirens

THE LIGHTHOUSE is self-released on July 26