I know I’ve said this already, but 2022 is shaping up to be the best year for new music in a long fucking time. Some of my favorite bands have put out new albums this year, and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, here comes German Krautrock veterans Wucan with their new album Heretic Tongues.
As always, I was a bit nervous going into this album. Wucan is one of those bands that I am a huge fan of, so I set my expectations for them pretty high. At first glance at the tracklisting, the album kicks off with two songs that I thought would be covers. The first is “Kill the King” (not Rainbow) and “Don’t Break the Oath” (not Mercyful Fate.)
“Kill the King” has Wucan coming out guns blazing with an irresistible groove that immediately had me saying, “Fuck yes!” Lead vocalist/guitarist/flautist Fran Tobolsky rips on this song with some of her most over-the-top vocals, which has always been the thing that made me love Wucan so much. If you aren’t nodding your head and want to get out of your chair and groove out, you need some serious therapy.
Right on the heels of “Kill the King,” there is no time at all to take a breath as “Don’t Break the Oath” comes at you like a car at full throttle. This song is a flooring, straightforward rock n’ roll juggernaut that projects a high-octane level of energy that is intense, exciting, and, well, it’s Wucan.
“Far and Beyond” is very reminiscent of the cosmic progressive rock of the ‘70s, with changes in mood and tempo that make this two-part song completely unpredictable. “Far Beyond” is then followed by “Far Beyond (Until We Meet Again.) On this track, the vibe transitions from the progressive rock vibe into a ‘70s disco kind of groove that showcases the groove and tight connection of the rhythm section. It’s an infectious groove that proved to be an unpredictable move for Wucan, and I absolutely loved it.
Finally, no Wucan album would be complete without an epic album closer. For Heretic Tongues the closing track “Physical Boundaries” is not only my favorite track on the album but probably in my top five favorite Wucan songs. With “Physical Boundaries,” I feel that Wucan delivered one of their most versatile and dynamic performances. It was the perfect ending to an album, and much like their previous releases, it left me wanting more and going back in for multiple listens.
Heretic Tongues proves that Wucan is a band that continues to grow by leaps and bounds without any constraints. They are a band that doesn’t give a fuck what anyone thinks, and they do what they do, and they do it well and better than most. Heretic Tongues is psychedelic, groovy, thought-provoking, just downright face-ripping Krautrock. Nothing about Heretic Tongues is “lightweight,” so plant your feet and brace yourself for impact. You’re going to be in for one hell of a ride.
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