Wolfmother returns with a new line up but a not-so-new sound. Seventies Hard Rock fans may enjoy “Cosmic Egg” for its nod to Sabbath, but music know-it-alls of the bong set are sure to dissect it for other early metal inspirations that can be heard through this Austrailian-born project.
The album doesn’t perk ears until the fourth track, “Sundial.” That’s not a bad thing, but the title track sounds like a Queens of the Stone Age song. It’s disappointing to say the least. But along the way the drums and strings are, at times, simply awesome.
Frontman Andrew Stockdale’s pipes remain well trained, but still retain too much of an Ozzie-Plant hybrid influence that denies us his genuine voice. Lyrics are decent if a little uninspired and lost in some acid-rock influenced distortion, but overall a well performed and engineered return to the sonic ether.
