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Album review: Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts

By Will Sewell
Ginger Wildheart by Andy Ford

An introspective yet totally kick-arse album - burning rock 'n' roll!

March 2025 sees The Wildhearts return with their 11th studio album; ‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts‘. Featuring their new line-up, coming out on a new label, and as always, focusing on new music! To support this latest release, the band are playing 8 concerts on their UK tour in March, before they head off to tour in Europe. They’re also Friday night’s headline band at the Steelhouse Festival. For three decades, The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the UK rock scene, and their incendiary shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands their homeland has produced.

Wildhearts UK Tour 2025
“The songs were written during a period of transition, from extremely negative to positive” explains Ginger. “I realised how much control I have over my mental health, and the songs came from that understanding. There’s everything here – catchy choruses, proper fuck-off riffs, anger, frustration, acceptance and revelation, with plenty of insane detours. The album starts pessimistic and ends up like ‘Ah, so I CAN turn my life around?’
 
Sometimes you have to start from the very bottom, your darkest point. We have more control over our emotions than we think. We control the outcome by how we respond. Once I started learning that, the songs came pissing out. It’s a hard rock album for people who actually love hard rock!”

Featuring 10 blistering tracks, this album kicks. Opener ‘Eventually‘ is over 6 minutes long – but don’t let that put you off! It’s a track that contains everything – powerful guitars, raw lyrics, and a slower middle section followed by a killer guitar solo. Ginger has written an honest song about the slim potential of a relationship lasting.. a cathartic howl.

The riff-filled ‘Scared Of Glass‘ is another honest offering. Not only is it a great piece of music, there’s a comedic element introduced, as Ginger interjects the occasional spoken commentary upon his own lyrics. Ultimately, although he’s ‘afraid of breaking’, it’s going to be ‘alright’.

‘Troubadour Moon‘ packs a melodic punch. “I was reading an interview with a well-known musician recently, and he was talking about how there aren’t any troubadours anymore – people who play music purely for the love of it. I thought it was an interesting observation, so I’ve addressed it here, along with the idea of being yourself and not being swayed by trend or fashion, by the latest thing. If you allow that to happen, there’s the danger that you’ll always be one step behind or in someone else’s shadow…” – Ginger.

‘Fire In The Cheap Seats‘ is chaotic and discordant – the ‘fire inside’ Ginger’s brain burning out of control as obliterates the bad memories from his life. Elements of thrash metal make the song burn even hotter.

Yes, ‘Kunce‘ is about what you think it is – all the people we don’t like in society and in our lives – ‘there’s always some kunce in the way’! There’s a neat keyboard backing this song up, and it’s a cheerful one despite its subject matter.

We’re back to heavier territory in ‘Maintain Radio Silence‘. A gem of a song about those who use and abuse other people to get ahead – but Ginger sees them for the pathetic specimens they really are. Angry guitars highlight his disgust.

The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts

‘Blue Moon Over Brinkburn‘ sees Ginger revisit his schooldays – ‘the good and the bad times’. It’s a victorious number, as he has clearly come a long way since then, and the upbeat tune emphasises his convictions.

Gentler track ‘Hurt People Hurt People‘ is an ode to improving your mental health. Its beautiful tune and messages are heartfelt, and supportive of all who are going through this. An emotional melody, providing a sensitive interlude on the album.

Ginger Wildheart - photo by Andy Ford

One of my favourite songs is ‘I’ll Be Your Monster’, which features a guest saxophone solo from Shining / Emperor member Jørgen Munkeby. This song sees The Wildhearts at their full creative tilt, delivering a hard-hitting, retooled glam stomper with a modern twist. This infectious track positively rips through the speakers, and as Ginger succinctly puts it, “is one for the narcissists.” 

Album closer ‘Failure Is The Mother Of Success‘ is “about getting back on your feet after things have gone wrong. There’s an old saying, ‘fall down three times, get up four’. It’s about feeling like you’re worth getting back up for, and that making mistakes is just an essential part of life, everyone does it” admits Ginger.

“At almost eight minutes long, it’s pretty brave for the record company to pick it; but it has everything any Wildhearts fan could want. I hope you absolutely love it!”

‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts‘ has some great songs for the punk rock fan, and I do feel it gets better and grabs you after a couple of listens. The best Wildhearts album? Only time will tell, but Ginger and the band’s new album is certainly a contender for it, with this solid Wildhearts classic, and also a strong contender for the AOTY which is great after the transition he’s been through.

‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts‘ has solid riffs to the more ambient ragtime blues, and the album is way better than I expected. Released on March 7th 2025 on Snakefarm Records, ‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ is available on ltd coloured vinyl LP, on CD with exclusive bonus track, and on cassette. Get you copy HERE

Main Photo Credit: ANDY FORD

  1. Eventually
  2. Scared Of Glass
  3. Troubadour Moon
  4. Fire In The Cheap Seats
  5. Kunce
  6. Maintain Radio Silence
  7. Blue Moon Over Brinkburn
  8. Hurt People Hurt People
  9. I’ll Be Your Monster
  10. Failure Is The Mother Of Success
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