Customer Reviews

Swallowed by the Wolf

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The theme is edgy, wolves and violence, softened with messages of hope in this rockin' CD.

This is NAVAR's best music ever! I have seen them play in person and heard their CD's. This new CD is a wonderful mix of rock, hard rock, and ballads with lyrics that travel right to your soul.

My personal favorites are Final Warning, Dry Your Eyes and Hold On. But there isn't a song on this CD that will not have you singing and dancing along.

I highly recommend this one for all music lovers. NAVAR fans will not be disappointed. But then again, they never are.

The first thing you realize when listening to this record is just how far Navar has come since their self-titled debut album. From the lyrics, to the superb mixing and production to the welcome addition of ridiculously talented lead guitarist JohnnyMasters, Swallowed by the Wolf is hands down the best album to date by the NYC based via Western New York band. A departure of sorts from past albums, Navar takes on a much harder, aggressive sound on the Wolf. To the music: The album opens with a brief piano based instrumental before erupting into Wompatuk, the most explosive opener of a Navar album to date. This is Your Final Warning, 26 Years and Givin' the Boots are all upbeat, hard rock songs in the same vein as Wompatuk and each works extremely well in its own way. Revolution Tonight and Sink.or.Swim recall the "Your Window" era Navar and these two tracks perfect the pop side of the equation the band has been evolving over the years...and the list of great songs just goes on and on...When the Ship Comes In is an amazing Razorlight-esque Dylan cover while Hold On and War in Chelsea are two of the best rock tracks Navar has ever committed to record. Big Orange is the bands attempt at an epic and the execution is flawless. The record closes with the best Navar track to date, Ocean Blue, a soaring blend of pure rock'n'roll & pop held together by a terrific melody and a cover of Neil Diamond's Dry Your Eyes. Do yourself a favor and pick up this record today.

This is an innovative album. Whether you hear it live or on the CD it is amazing. It is a rock album with beat and you can't help yourself but learn the words and sing along. NAVAR has created this album with incredible instrumental effects. You will want to listen to it over and over...

I didn't think it was possible because they were already great, but Navar surpassed all previous recordings with this latest CD. Pat and Ben Barry on vocals, bass, and guitar, with Tim Lindhome on drums and Johnny Masters on lead guitar have transformed an already exceptional group into a powerhouse. Navar on this CD epitomizes the raw power that rock fans expect. Theirs is a distinctive sound that sets this group far above other bands.

Pat and Ben Barry wrote their own lyrics and music for Swallowed by the Wolf, with two notable exceptions. Navar puts their on stamp on "When the Ship Comes In" by Bob Dylan, and what an amazing stamp it is! They did Dylan proud and thrilled this listener to the core with that track. The other track not written by Pat or Ben Barry on this CD is "Dry Your Eyes" by Diamond and Robertson. This is the kind of interpretation that inspires audiences to light candles or flick their Bics in silent tribute. Awesome is the only word that describes the experience of hearing Navar's version of "Dry Your Eyes." One old favorite reprised from another Navar CD is "Turn it All Around." Other personal favorites are "War in Chelsea," "26 Years," and "Hold On." But each one of these 15 tracks features strong vocals and instrumentation.

These are confident, accomplished performers, in control of every nuance of lyric and instrument. The sound is perfection. The Barry brothers grace their music with lyrics that excite and entice. If you're a rock fan, Navar will deliver what you crave. Highly recommended.