April 9th 2011 saw the first headline show by Tamworth based metal legends Wolfsbane for a somewhat staggering 17 years. What better way to celebrate a triumphant return to headlining status than to release a stunning blast of raw, howling mad street metal and prove to all the young pretenders out there that there's plenty of bite left in the old wolves yet. I picked up a couple of copies of 'Did It For The Money' at the sold out London show and found that, without a shadow a doubt, Wolfsbane are back, hungry as ever and twice as mean.

With 'Did It For The Money' we get a fresh taste of the mighty Wolfsbane we knew and loved all those years ago. The reunited classic line up of Blaze Bayley, Jase Edwards, Jeff Hately and Steve Danger are back, bad and dangerous to drink with, digging up the past and slapping it around the face of anyone who's bright enough to want to listen. Of the five tracks on 'Did It For The Money' only the title track itself is brand new material. The remaining four tracks have all been previously available in one guise or another. 'Killing Machine', originally from 1989's debut album 'Live Fast, Die Fast' gets a modern makeover. A re-vamped, re-recorded, totally reinvigorated roller coaster of carnage. Those old school fans who have always been somewhat unhappy with the rather thin production that 'Live Fast, Die Fast' received at the time from Rick Rubin will be pleased to hear just how powerful 'Killing Machine' has become. Wolfie's own Jase Edwards who produced and engineered 'Did It For The Money' has given a massive noise injection to a song once left with a lightweight mix that never really captured the raw power of Wolfsbane at their best. This new version is a serrated blade of rock that rips chunks out of your flesh and sinks its hooks deep into your bones. I'm not usually a fan of bands re-recording their early stuff but this time Wolfsbane have got it bang on the money they did it for.

Going back to the title track and EP opener it's a real groove laden taster of what's to come on the soon to be recorded new album, showing that the mighty 'Bane have lost none of their metallic majesty since 1994's self titled long player. 'Did It For The Money' has a low riding, hard driving groove that could swing and strut its way around easily with with the likes of 'Rope And Ride' or 'My Face', a brief snippet of which we get as the new opening section of the much loved 'Limo' from the 'Wasted But Dangerous' demo from 1987. With the baton well and truly picked up from where it was unceremoniously dropped all those years ago both the brand new 'Did It For The Money' and the old school 'Limo' proceed to beat the living daylights out of any doubters who may be thinking that Wolfsbane are merely cashing in on a once great name.

'Dance My Tune' is pulled kicking and screaming into 2011 from 1987's 'Dance Dirty' demo and rolls out yet another anthemic riff and chorus. 'G.S.B', one of the oldest Wolfsbane songs, dating back to 1985 has a real old school Saxon like riff that builds through the verse before an archetypal underdog chorus that really lifts your soul like so many of Wolfsbane's songs manage to do. This band are kinda magical to me and it would be easy for me to gush more than a Bangkok hooker when I talk about them but music like this really should be exposed to a much bigger audience than it is. How empty souled blands, sorry bands, like Muse can fill Wembley Stadium while Wolfsbane go by largely unnoticed will always be a mystery to me. If anyone could ever truly unite the world Wyld Stallyns-style and bring peace, love and filthy sex to our divided nations then I'm sure it would be Wolfsbane. Just give the bastards a chance.

Running at just under 17 minutes 'Did It For The Money' will have you hitting the replay button quicker than you can say Booze, Birds and Bad Language. Now do yourselves a favour, head over to the Wolfsbane site, go to the store, and buy the fucking EP. Make a stand for real music!   http://www.wolfsbanehms.com/

........or you could win a signed copy of the EP right here!!!!

If you fancy getting your paws on a fully signed copy of this must-have EP then all you have to do is send your name and address to mail@uberrock.co.uk in an email titled 'Wolfsbane Comp' - yes, it's that easy!!

All entries must be rammed into our inbox by close of business on Monday 25th April. One winner will be picked at random from the bazillion of entries and will be informed of their win by the majesty of email. All usual terms and conditions apply. Good luck!!