Wolfnaut: Return Of The Asteroid

Usually when I delve into stoner and desert rock it’s an American band and there are plenty of good ones. This time we go all the way to Elverum, Norway and the band Wolfnaut, formerly known as Wolfgang. Their roots date back to the mid ‘90s and in 2023 released their fourth effort titled Return of the Asteroid. The band play heavy stoner/desert rock and are influenced by ‘70s classic heavy rock and metal with elements of psychedelic scattered throughout.

In the band are:
Tor Erik Hagen (bass)
Ronny “Ronster� Kristiansen (drums and percussion)
Kjetil Saeter (guitars, vocals, piano)

The disc begins with the hook laden burner “Brother of the Badlands�, a fantastic album opener. The band touches on Americana-like guitar before massive fuzzed out distortion takes the song into the desert rock realm. The lead vocals are robust, powerful, and catchy and the groove is deep and tasty with the guitar riffs etching earworms that won’t go way anytime soon. The fuzz is even more intense in the heavy “My Orbit Is Mine� featuring a meaty drum sound and more great guitar riffs. A barrage of distortion drenched riffs lead into a mind melting chugging groove. Think a desert spawned Iron Maiden, the vocals powerful and addictive with another great chorus. A moody piano and slow dirge-like guitar riffs begin “The Mighty Pawns�, a much more introspective tune, the soundscape thick with a somber atmosphere, interrupted with slow burning guitar riffs. Halfway through the tempo picks up, the band at full throttle with an intensity that is hard to ignore. “Crash Yer Asteroid� features another great riff progression and vocal, the hooks just keep coming as the band’s songwriting is top notch. The music slows down with the pretty “Arrows� and its clean guitar and wonderfully restrained lead vocals.

Return of the Asteroid is quite simply one of the finest stoner rock albums I have had the pleasure of hearing. I cannot wait to hear what comes next!

A Ripple Music release.

Track Listing:
1. Brother of the Badlands (4:26)
2. My Orbit Is Mine (3:07)
3. The Mighty Pawns (5:43)
4. Crash Yer Asteroid (2:47)
5. Arrows (4:41)
6. G.T.R. (3:00)
7. Something More Than Night (3:20)
8. Crates of Doom (7:14)
9. Wolfnaut’s Lament (10:12)

Added: November 9th 2025
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 129
Language: english

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