Review Summary: A genre blend curveball that’s somehow psychedelic business as usual
Like the new efforts from Kadavar and Electric Citizen, Wucan’s fourth full-length is simultaneously more accessible and experimental than anything they’ve done thus far. The forays into funk and hard rock were introduced on 2022’s Heretic Tongues are expanded upon, ironic with this being their shortest album to date and nary a lengthy epic in sight. It’s not too dramatically different from the psych they’ve done before but the old Jethro Tull associations sure aren’t as prominent as they used to be.
Things also feel a lot more spry than before, which is impressive considering the musicians’ established energy. The one-two of “Spectres Of Fear” and “Irons In The Fire” immediately remind one of Heart at their most aggressive thanks to a combination of soaring vocals and almost metallic guitar gallops bolstered by exuberant flute. That upbeat momentum is sustained even as things start getting weird as “Wicked, Sick, and Twisted” picks up the sort of groovin’ disco flavor that I’m an instant sucker for while the loopy synths and bratty inflections on “KTNSAX” remind me of Blondie of all things.
While the second half isn’t quite as impactful in comparison, there’s still plenty of fun to be had. “Holz Auf Holz,” the lone German-sung number, is a slight tempo fluctuation that comes out with some breezy funk. I can also appreciate them toying with the dynamics toward the end as the title track is a folk-prog sway that holds up bursting flute and pretty guitar through all the tempo shifts and the closing “Fountain Of Youth” cycles between spacey acoustics and climactic bass-driven speeds.
Considering Wucan’s consistent yet eclectic track record on past efforts, it’s interesting to see Axiom feel like a curveball yet also business as usual. The more accessible bent feels true to their character thanks to their blazing enthusiasm and a smooth flow between songs helps the genre blend keep from feeling too forced. While the poppier elements might not work for listeners expecting more stoner or folk venturing, this may be a good first step for anybody curious.
