Imagine Thin Lizzy and Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats had a kid. That's essentially what Worshipper sound like. Light In The Wire is one of the most dynamic and exciting rock records of the year and marks a huge step up for the Boston riffers. Having been at it since 2015, this sophomore offering sees them truly embracing their potential. The rich melodies and powerful choruses drive Worshipper into the realms of greatness. With a focus on crisp production and soaring guitars, Light In The Wire has hardly a dull moment across its 43 minute run time.
Built on the swagger of the road and the precision of the studio, Light In The Wire represents a balance. This blend of experiences is clear even from the opening track, “Coming Through.” It then proceeds to only delve deeper. It's always exciting when a band manages to evolve their sound. 2016’s Shadow Hymns was certainly a tasteful offering, but the polished glamour of Light In The Wire is something different. This record is Worshipper's breakout moment.
What truly differentiates Light In The Wire from their peers is the use of dynamics throughout the record. The ballad-esque “Light In The Wires” is a perfect example of the bands ability to slow things down. It serves to counterbalance some of the more out and out rockers like “It All Comes Back.” The band shows not just a broad sonic range, but also a varied emotional one. “Wither On The Vince” with its ominous trudge outlines a completely different sound world from the almost poppy “Who Holds The Light” but they make sense as a part of the same whole.
These tracks continually push the band to extremes. Again, it's the mix of experiences from the woodshed to the road by way of the studio that serves to make Light In The Wire such a remarkable listen. In today's underground rock scene many bands pull from the same staid tropes. Worshipper build upon them. Their core influences—-bands like Thin Lizzy, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, and Dio—-aren't especially deep, but the difference is the band’s tight execution. So much so that it's hard not to be enamored with the clearly driven songwriting. Album closer, “Arise” is a perfect example of this. While it may clearly draw from 80's rock influences, it doesn't feel like it's aping the genre.
Worshipper have cracked the code to being underground rock lords. They have crafted something with Light In The Wire that is not only bombastic and fun, but also can drag you to hell with twisted chugs. Their development on classic tropes makes for an addictive listen. It pushes the band beyond the common limitations of a bloated scene. While Worshipper haven't reached their full potential, they remain one of the most forward-thinking bands in the stoner rock scene. This is a rock record that any fan of heavy music can dig. With fist pumping choruses and brooding hymns, Light In The Wire continually embraces its sheer forward momentum. Impossible to ignore and easy to fall in love with, Worshipper have crafted something thrilling. Light In The Wire reeks of the passion behind the band, making for something multilayered and immaculate. All you need to do is turn the volume all the way up.
Overall: 9/10
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