Short Reviews [Ward XVI - 2017 - "The Art of Manipulation"]

One of the real joys of being involved in the scene for so long is that often my name gets passed onto bands and it is suggested they get in touch with me. This is how Doktor Von Stottenstein from Ward XVI came across my details, and he sent me both this their debut album from 2017 and their most recent to see what I thought of them, and tbh I was simply blown away from the very first time I put it on. Ward XVI are a theatrical hard rock band with strong progressive tendencies who utilize actors and props on stage to create a 4d experience. I must confess to having failed in trying to uncover who is involved in this release as I believe there have been considerable line-up changes since then, but I can confirm that Doktor Von Stottenstein (guitars, vocals) was joined on this by the delectable Psychoberrie (vocals). Mind you, given that this is the first album in a concept trilogy which tells the story of a female psychopath locked away in Whittingham Asylum, a high security asylum for the criminally insane. Throughout the album she delves into her past life and tells the story of how she manipulated a man into killing for her using her feminine charm. Although it must be said she does say right at the beginning that she is not mad at all, possibly just evil? What strikes me most throughout this album is that there are quite a few fairground styles here and there, and although one normally expects a theatrical band to rely heavily on the showmanship and props here we have a release that is thoroughly enjoyable without any visible cues whatsoever. This is a hard trick to get right, and while Alice Cooper is one of those who continually delivers, I have always felt that the likes of Rob Zombie and GWAR fail miserably in the studio compared with their live shows. That is not the case here, and why is that? In simple terms, it is due to the sheer quality of material and performance throughout. They have given themselves a lot of breadth with the story, have constructed powerful music and lyrics to get that over the line, and then at the front is Psychoberrie. She may like to look ferocious, and has an evil way of talking which really makes us think we are listening to the devil incarnate, but she can also really sing. Here we have band whose music is first and foremost, with a powering rhythm section, guitars that can crunch, and keyboards that can be symphonic and over the top or be an accordion and quite schmaltzy, then we have those wonderful vocals that can be pure and clear, or cutting and dark. Here we have a band that if I was in the UK I know I would be following from gig to gig, as I love the music first and foremost, and if their show is as powering as I have been led to believe then that would be the cherry on the top.