Album Review: Puke Wolf – Descend (Various Labels)

The Danish emotional post-hardcore trio Puke Wolf will release their debut album, ‘Descend’ on February 6th, 2026, via 8 different record labels around all of Europe.

Admit it, you saw the name Puke Wolf and presumed this band to be playing some form of raw and fast paced thrash/punk/d-beat metal. I certainly did. So, it came as something of a surprise to find out that actually, they’re a band who sit in the post-hardcore camp. Offering up an effective example of potent emotion in this kind of music.

With themes relating to the physical/spiritual sense of descent and the fact that we are all descendants of another, Puke Wolf takes us on a comprehensive journey. One filled with enigmatic detail that effortlessly creates a unique listening environment thanks to the genre-blurring that the band does so well and how they all share vocals.

Beginning in eye-widening fashion, Bær’s power comes from its spoken-word style, although it could probably be better described as spoken-screamed. The moody melody making for a darker sounding experience. It’s short, but intense, leading into Blood, where a bit more shoegaze and alternative sounds rise. It’s got a bit more sense about it, especially from a melodic and emotive stance, but still manages to include some eccentric moments.

If you like what you’ve heard so far, the good news is that the album gets better as it goes on. Puke Wolf delivering two of their more extravagant and detailed efforts with Remnants and Oh God, What Have We Done? The former is a cathartic explosion of dramatic post-driven intensity that takes on many different forms across its near nine-minute run. Experimental as hell, it’s an impressively diverse track with potent vocals. Whereas the latter cleverly blends faster and more aggressive parts with deep and meaningful melody. Evolving across its runtime, both musically and lyrically, and featuring Peter Clement Lund from the sludge trio Kollapse.

It’s one of the album’s best efforts, but it’s far from alone as far as quality goes. Hold on tight, Hyena Laugh is something truly special. Before that gargantuan effort, there is the highly atmospheric and unusual De Sprukne Åndehuller I Den Tavse Hævn, a short intermission, so to speak. Then, it’s time for the most spectacular track on the album and one of the best tracks heard this year so far.

Puke Wolf at their grandest, Puke Wolf at their most layered, and Puke Wolf at their most intense, both from a melody-laced and a heavy perspective. It’s charged with passion and to emphasise that point, the track features all four members of the chaotic hardcore quartet Demersal and violinist Sophia Larsdotter from the string ensemble Who Killed Bambi. It’s incredible, feeling a quarter of its eleven-plus minute run time and leaving the listener exhausted, but satisfied, especially as the latter part of the track is sludgy as hell.

It’s not quite over yet though as Flowers wraps things up in effervescent fashion. Featuring the gorgeous vocals of Mai Soon Young Øvlisen from Meejah and delivering thought-provoking alternatively tinged music that lingers long afterwards.

A very impressive release that should get the attention of a wide array of listeners looking for something fresh in the world of alternative music.

Puke Wolf – Descend Track Listing:

1. Bær
2. Blood
3. Remnants
4. Oh God, What Have We Done?
5. De Sprukne Åndehuller I Den Tavse Hævn
6. Hyena Laugh
7. Flower

Links

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