The long awaited sequel to Wolfmother is finally here! With Cosmic Egg, guitarist Andrew Stockdale presents a reinvented band ready to pick up where they left off. The product of a drastic line-up change and years of touring is a fine treat that is definitely worth the wait.

       The album begins in typical Wolfmother fashion. “California Queen” is a fantastic way to open the album as it allows the listener to remember what was so great about the band, its unashamed reverence for classic 70s bands. Stockdale allows himself to have some fun and his voice lets us all know that “yes, this is the Wolfmother we knew.”

       Next the album moves in a slightly unexpected direction. “New Moon Rising” is a surprising cut that is very much the heart of what Wolfmother is, and completely different. The drums take the primary position during the verses, creating a very clap-inducing atmosphere as Stockdale sings about his experiences driving home from work. It is surprisingly original and a fantastic first single, providing both comfort and expansion to their musical breadth.

       “White Feather” kicks off in a very syncopated riff that makes you want to dance, but you are unsure how you could to the awkward beat, it then smoothes into an uplifting chorus, proving once again that Wolfmother know how to balance their influences with the increasing pressure to be original in today’s music scene. The bridge, while very simplistic and cheesy lyrically, works within the context and allows Stockdale a chance to show off his guitar skills which fans have come to know and expect from live performances.

       In fact, much of this album appears to be tailor-made to live shows. The riffs drop into place in a very dramatic fashion, and the production quality, while crisp, feels as if the guitars were plugged directly into the board. They often overload the sound and hide the fantastic playing going on behind in the rhythm section. This is a minor problem, however, and in no way hinders the listening. The one production factor that does prove troublesome is a reliance on the Digitech Whammy Pedal. Its distinctive tone is present in almost every song and soon becomes an annoyance. There is fine line between using an effect and using it to death. Though, when taken as a whole album, the production quality is good.

       One of the most surprising digressions from their old sound, “10,000 Feet” is a heavy pounding song that evokes industrial rock sounds such as “Reptile” by Nine Inch Nails. The riffs constantly pound through the song and ingrain the melodies that drift over them, in an eerie fashion I might add, into the listener’s brain and proves it to be one of the strongest tunes on the album.

       “Far Away” is the ballad of the album and is quite touching, featuring some of the best singing from Stockdale on any song he has recorded. In fact he channels John Lennon in the pre-chorus, demonstrating that he has a much larger range than initially thought. The chorus provides a dramatic and crashing chord pattern and the simplistic bridge lead elevates this song to quite possible the best Wolfmother song recorded.

       All in all, it is a long-awaited return of classic rock sounds. While there are the occasional missteps in production or effects use, Wolfmother proves that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and lets Cosmic Egg answer all questions about the future of a band with only one original member left. It soars as high as the psychedelic imagery it portrays, and attests that classic rock still has its place in the modern music scene.

Recommended Tracks: New Moon Rising, 10,000 Feet, and Far Away

-- AJ Rekdahl