Rhythm is the topic of conversation in Chapter 4 of the Age Of Wolves documentary Lockdown 20/21. The band talk about the longstanding relationship between drummer Dwayne Lafromboise and bassist Ray Soloman and how that dynamic comes into effect within The Pack. The video also showcases the song “My Love Ends All” which was filmed during their October 2020 live performance at The Back Stage in Windsor, Ontario.
Chapter Four of Lockdown 20/21 highlights the two-headed monsters which comprise Age Of Wolves. The main spotlight is on the rhythm section of drummer Dwayne Laframboise and bassist Ray Solomon, and their brotherhood on and off the stage. A solid band is rooted on a strong foundation. This is no ‘house of cards’. With over 25 years of friendship, and countless hours spent writing, rehearsing, recording, and performing…the bottom end of this band is definitely as solid as they come. That familiarity shows through in the lockstep precision the two show, both in the studio, and while on stage performing.
This musical certainty allows the remaining two members to flourish while adding their unique talents over-top the relentless, steady groove.
The other two-headed monster makes it’s debut in “My Love Ends All” as Al Yeti Bones not only has main vocal duties, but also lyrical contributions. Although his main intention is to play guitar in this band, he’s an accomplished lead vocalist in his own right. Singer Mike Edwards shares the microphone, and also plays guitar on this tune. Trading off versus and choruses to give the listener one more dimension of this fearsome foursome.
“I had no intention of singing it. This was a bouncy kind of riff that was becoming obvious we could take this tune into a thousand different directions. Around the time we recorded it, I sat at home listening to the demo and I began tracking some vocals for fun. Just to see where this thing could possibly go, and as a result the song took an entirely different approach and we just decided to go with it” states Al Yeti Bones
Regarding lyrics, Al had this to say:
” I sat with headphones on, I closed my eyes and pictured a time lapse of me just sitting there. My beard was growing at that alarming rate, quickly turned into serpents like the head of Medusa, and prior to this, they had been sleeping. And I awakened them. They became the vengeance behind broken hearts everywhere. Just giving time to heal all wounds. Coming back stronger than ever. The gates have been opened, and all this could go away. My love ends all.
Lyrics to me either come fast and strong a little bit all over the place, or slowly, methodically and overly analyzed. I approach stuff in many different ways. Whichever way reaches out to me first is usually the approach I’ll explore.”
Check out Lockdown 20/21 Chapter 4 below or click HERE
ICYMI, check out Lockdown 20/21 Chapter 1 HERE , Chapter 2 HERE and Chapter 3 HERE
About Age Of Wolves:
Growing up across the river from Motown/Detroit Rock City, and living in the afterglow of the home of the Big 8 CKLW,
Windsor, Ontario has a solid rock and roll history that cannot be denied. A person can’t help but be influenced by the cultural and musical diversity of the area, and surrounding Rust Belt region. The 4 members of Age Of Wolves are a direct byproduct of this. Being veteran musicians who’ve recorded and performed throughout the area and beyond, the original intention was to create a band as diverse as the individuals’ own influences. Drawing from the likes of Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, MC5, Motörhead, Soundgarden, Clutch and ALL styles and flavours in between, the original vision of the band was to encompass and infuse as many of the different styles of ‘heavy’…as tastefully possible.
To sound like every band you’ve ever heard, but not one in particular was the goal. This mission was definitely accomplished with the first 8 songs, before the world changed…
Isolation in what would later become known as the Wolf Den, is where Age Of Wolves began. Ironically, the band will now have to be unveiled in the midst of isolation from a global pandemic.
The Pack Formation
Times have vastly changed since mid September of 2019, when vocalist Michael Edwards (formerly of LoDown), drummer Dwayne Laframboise (formerly of My Terminal Ritual), and bassist Ray Solomon (formerly of My Terminal Ritual) parted ways with their previous bands to pursue something that was more dedicated to their own vision.
In those first couple weeks, through word of mouth, they would garner the attention of a handful of local guitar players, but it wasn’t until AL Yeti Bones (Gypsy Chief Goliath, The Mighty Nimbus, Georgian Skull) entered the room in early October, that things started to take form. Originally only slated as a 3 song demo, the chemistry in the room was instantaneous as The Pack formed, and quickly took shape. So much so, that recording equipment was installed to avoid ‘riff-loss’. As a result, hours of music was sifted through to form the first few songs.
The Pack quickly realized the 3 song demo would have to be more than just that. With a plan to record a 6 song E.P. in early March 2020, everything would be put on hold due to the Covid 19 crisis. Fortunately…the first 4 songs were demo’d in the Wolf Den back during the Christmas holidays, and when things had eased up, the band wrote 4 more, to establish the band, and an album.
Plans began to morph into something incredibly busy during the midst of a pandemic. Age Of Wolves began production on a documentary, and even a live performance. However, time will tell as the world adjusts to a new reality, a new normal as they say, but one thing is for sure, the documentary has captured a fragment in our lives that we will forever remember.
Each week, we will be releasing a new chapter of the documentary exclusively, and we hope you all enjoy. Much more Age Of Wolves to come.
