EP Review: ForeignWolf - Merely Mortal (2026)
- 34 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Written: 28th March 2026
Having formed in 2019 and released two EPs - Tempered Hearts and Your Weapons, Your Words - Belfast metal quartet ForeignWolf are set to return with new offering Merely Mortal on 3rd April 2026. Consisting of Gerard McCann (vocals, guitar), Dave Brady (lead guitar, backing vocals), Conor Forbes (bass, backing vocals) and Max Couhig (drums), the band state that, “This EP is about the parts of being human we don’t always talk about. It explores self-doubt, fear, emotional dependency and the connections we struggle to let go of. We wanted to capture what it feels like to be trying to grow while still feeling fragile and imperfect.”
First track Tyrant begins with urgent, spikey guitar, creating a disquieting feeling from the outset. As the rest of the band join, McCann’s snarling vocals are hurled towards us like the venom from a spitting cobra. So tell me what you know / About what you’ve seen / Every loss that you’ve suffered / And every broken dream. Despite being under three minutes long, Tyrant gives a great insight into the various strands that make up ForeignWolf’s DNA: verses are blistering and combative, while the slower chorus stomps with an unerring groove. Additionally, the band are willing to experiment with tempo and dynamics. They make astute use of breakdowns but add moments of tension through segments such as the central, quieter section. Lyrically, it portrays self-loathing and our own mental pressures as a cruel ruler demanding submission. I will dance with the devil / Living inside my brain / I have seen every angle / Now I sit here and wait. A volatile but compelling start to the EP.
Immediately demonstrating the variety within their music, Hollow begins with more spacious rhythms and textures, together with clean vocals from McCann. Max Couhig is a versatile drummer and adds distinctive personality to each of the tracks here, not following the most predictable routes. Choruses introduce crushing lead vocals and anguished backing vocals that focus on emotional dependence and feeling empty without another person by our side. A whispered spoken word section before the final chorus adds another atmospheric dimension and further exemplifies ForeignWolf’s wish to be explore a range of moods.
Veering from searing, tortured vocals from McCann to Brady’s shimmering guitar during the choruses, Imposter Syndrome combines metalcore with some more progressive elements. Belligerent, feral verses give way to melodic sections, which in turn are followed by colossal grooves that take the speed right down. It is a direct expression of self‑doubt - the lyrics describing feeling undeserving and emotionally numb while questioning personal worth and purpose. Through the lying and the cheating / Through the fighting and the bleeding / Holding onto something fleeting / Now I can’t feel my pulse beating. Resolve opens with clean guitar arpeggios and reverses the oft-used heavy verse / melodic chorus. Throughout the EP, McCann proves that he is proficient with both clean and rasping, growling vocals and Resolve is the most vibrant expression of this. It also features a dramatically, climatic ending that makes it the perfect closing track.
Taken as a whole, Merely Mortal stands as an assured statement from ForeignWolf, offering a clear snapshot of who they are and where they are heading. Rooted primarily in (melodic) metalcore, it also has elements of post-hardcore, progressive metal and even occasional hard rock swagger. The production plays a crucial role in the success of the EP. It allows every band member room to breathe, with each instrument clearly defined while avoiding an overly polished sheen. Concise yet substantial, the EP has enough character, variety and emotional weight to remain engaging throughout. This deserves to be widely heard and, if there is any justice, propel ForeignWolf firmly towards the next level.
Merely Mortal is released on 3rd April 2026
ForeignWolf online