There’s one thing sinister afoot in “Howl Alone,” the brand new video from Florida’s Wolf-Face, however it’s not what one thinks at first viewing. An unnamed gent (Ryan Metcalf) arrives house after a busy day, places on Nonetheless Golden – Wolf-Face’s 2019 LP – and goes about his night. But, there’s a shadowy determine haunting his one-bedroom house, one who turns into extra looming every time the man tries to get some sleep. After waking as much as see the determine looming overhead, it seems to be Michael J. Wolf, who is able to assist the man have one of the best evening of his life.
Michael J. Wolf is greater than only a stalking determine in “Howl Alone”; he’s a stand-in for one thing rather more frightful. “Our drummer Wolf-Fart has been experiencing sleep paralysis for a number of years,” Michael J. Wolf tells HollywoodLife. Michael J. – who performs in Wolf-Face with Wolf Fart, The Good Wolf (of Mastodon skit fame), and Rain-Wolf – says that this video was the drummer’s approach of attempting to seize that sensation. “He felt prefer it has at all times been onerous to explain it to individuals who haven’t skilled it, and there aren’t any good video depictions of the dysfunction. I assume he got here up with the idea for this music video as a strategy to confront these demons, and the construction/timing of the music ‘Howl Alone’ appeared like an ideal match for the concept.”
The video additionally has a intelligent distinction to it. “Howl Alone,” the music, highlights a second of being remoted out of your friends (“We was once a crew, now I’m flying solo / Now I stand alone on this locker room / This hell seems like house”) and the struggles with that alienation (“I’ll nonetheless go to this dance / And if I’m dancing on my own / It doesn’t matter to me / I’ll be dancing for nobody else”). The video, alternatively, showcases somebody who isn’t by themselves. “[Howl Alone] lends itself to that distinction about feeling alone when perhaps you truly usually are not; Michael J. Wolf is at all times with you, and he’s most likely able to celebration,” he tells HL.
There are numerous sides to Wolf-Face. The music the band has shared for the previous ten years is, on first hear, based mostly on the primary two Teen Wolf films of the Eighties (Michael J. Wolf claims that Hollywood stole the life story for the Michael J. Fox blockbuster, and the 1987 sequel that includes Jason Bateman). But, by way of this wolf-shaped lens, Wolf-Face has addressed themes of loyalty (“With Or With out Boof”), struggles with self-acceptance (“I Wanna Be A Homo(Sapien),” “I’m So A lot Higher”), reliance, defiance, and different punk rock staples. The band has used the Teen Wolf medium lens to deftly discover what it means to be human – and what separates a person from a beast.
The band additionally does this whereas being fairly humorous, particularly in its music movies. “Owen Is A Dracula” pits werewolf versus vampire. “With or With out Boof” sees the band dance alongside patrons at a Eighties nightclub. “I Wanna Be A Homo(Sapien)” places the pack in an aerobicize video. The one video that doesn’t have an outright factor of humor is the one for the Nonetheless Golden title observe (until you assume gnome homicide is humorous.)
“Our buddy, actor/comic Garrett Jamieson, did the primary music video for ‘Nonetheless Golden,’” shares Michael J. Wolf. “He’s a splendidly proficient individual and a genuinely good man, which I assume shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody since he’s Canadian. I feel that video may truly be type of a tragedy, however it’s additionally completely unattainable to not giggle every time Garrett is in a scene.”
Does “Howl Alone” imply that that is the top of the movies from Nonetheless Golden because the album is three years outdated now? “Isn’t it good to fake 2020 by no means occurred in any respect? So, let’s name it two years,” Michael J. says with a smile. “Severely although, as immortal beings, we aren’t almost involved with the type of launch schedules and timelines most bands must handle. If there’s a superb thought for a brand new music video, you possibly can wager your ass Michael J. Wolf goes to open his checkbook and make it occur, regardless of how outdated or new the observe could be.”
Time might not matter to the immortal lupine beings in Wolf-Face, however to their human followers, 2023 is a particular yr. It marks the tenth anniversary of their debut LP, Nonetheless A Son Of A Bitch. “If luck had been to really shine on the world, we’ll see a re-pressing of Nonetheless a Son of a Bitch vinyl in 2023. It’s been offered out for a number of years,” says Michael J.
When requested if he had any ideas on the last decade since its launch and the way the band has discovered a following within the years since their first gigs, he tells HL, “I understood the endurance of our poetry once we launched SaSoaB ten years in the past, however I’m positively grateful the songs have resonated with so many adoring followers around the globe.”
“We’re getting near the purpose the place we are going to not be ‘teenage’ werewolves,” he provides, “however the endurance of the songs has proven that the message will stay relatable for years to return and can proceed to be found by future generations, Homosapien or in any other case.”
With that mentioned, there’s just one query left: what was on that bizarre vegan pizza proven within the behind-the-scenes featurette concerning the making of the “Howl Alone” video? “I used to be asking the identical query when he opened that pizza field!” says Michael J. “There have been a handful of vegans on the crew; a lot respect to our vegan pack mates however their pizza was loaded with all types of stuff that simply appeared like individuals turds. The opposite pizza was common cheese and didn’t appear like individuals turded on it. However our vegan pack mates loved their pizza very a lot so in the event that they’re blissful consuming turd pizza, Michael J. is blissful they’re blissful!”
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