Review Summary: Another ace in the band's ever-growing legend.
It’s been nearly six years since
shrine was released to critical acclaim, so
naturally, the next chapter in The Republic of Wolves’ story has arrived without fanfare and entirely unannounced. The surprise release offers up seven new tracks that once again capture the band’s signature blend of dark alt-rock and atmospheric folk. Composed remotely,
Why Would Anyone Want to Live This Long still manages to sound just as dynamic and polished as prior in-person efforts – so if it’s a The Republic of Wolves fix you’re seeking, then this EP promises to hit the spot.
Why Would Anyone Want to Live This Long wastes little time cutting to the chase, as ‘Lens’ barges down the door with imposing drums, fiery riffs, and some of The Republic of Wolves’ heaviest vocals. It seems to explode from silence, almost as if you tuned in during the middle of a massive, foreboding breakdown. The song’s only real shortcoming is its length, because at a succinct two minutes, it leaves you wanting even
more of that intensity channeled directly into your ears – but as an intro track, it fucking
goes. ‘Nightjar’ takes that raw aggression and harnesses it, with addicting chords setting the scene for a combination of Maggio’s melodic croons and Duprey’s screams. The controlled chaos is capped by a beautiful, intricate guitar solo that punctuates the piece with an element of splendor. ‘Veer’ is similar in terms of its overall makeup, thriving on the strength of the band’s soft-to-loud vocal tradeoffs while also featuring plenty of searing, blistering riffs. It all builds to an epic crescendo of a chorus, where the band can be heard chanting in unison “this can’t be real” – a statement that seems to snowball in urgency with each refrain.
If the first half of the EP brings the fire, then the second half is, at least comparatively, serene. The ambient ‘Idyll’ interlude serves as something of an intermission and dividing point, with its stunning atmosphere washing over you like a soul-cleansing dream – it’s the heavenly reflection to ‘Lens’s hell. ‘Sapphirine’ glides in on uplifting guitar notes which buoy one of the EP’s most memorable choruses; it’s a goldmine of infectious melody akin to what ‘Sundials’ brought to
shrine. ‘Mictlantecutli’ causes a temporary disruption to the EP’s calmer back half thanks to its messy riffs, furious screams, and a foreboding climax that delivers the album’s namesake: “I’m apprentice to a ghost, I’m a gracious host…I’m the tide that never rose / Why would anyone want to live this long?” Followed by a chaotic breakdown, it’s a moment that reverberates and provides a jolt of energy to
Why Would Anyone Want to Live This Long’s latter section. The pendulum swings back to the placid and melodic for the finale ‘Reedcutter’, which again dwells within the darkly introspective and existential: “…and this is how you die well / you make a pact with yourself, you try to grieve the hard nights / and then you take all of that expiring light / melt it down, forge a knife, kill time / then say you put up a good fight”. As the melody swells and Maggio’s vocals layer, it becomes the most moving sequence of
Why Would Anyone Want to Live This Long – this burgeoning realization that most of our actions will, in hindsight, seem inconsequential against the backdrop of time’s unyielding march towards death.
Whereas past efforts dealt primarily in myths, legends, and shadows,
Why Would Anyone Want to Live This Long feels very much rooted in the personal – feelings of hope and defeat coincide, all while attempting to make peace with, and extract meaning from, a bleak and transient existence. The Republic of Wolves seemingly weave together all of their trademark sounds into a tapestry that is satisfyingly harsh
and melodic – a truly representative effort. Few artists can claim such a consistent and alluring catalog, and The Republic of Wolves are only solidifying their ever-growing legend with each release.
