Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence
Critic Score
Based on 18 reviews
2019 Ratings: #163 / 805
User Score
Based on 421 ratings
2019 Rank: #464
Liked by 26 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Gigwise
This record shows that Wolfe is an enchantress and the High Priestess of her field amongst her peers.
90
Paste

Because of Wolfe’s newfound ability to communicate so much more with less, you could call Birth of Violence a tour de force—only Wolfe has mastered the art of eschewing force altogether.

85
The Line of Best Fit

Chelsea Wolfe cements her place among the gothic greats with Birth of Violence.

83
Consequence of Sound

With Birth of Violence, Chelsea Wolfe offers a compelling work brimming with emotion and dreamy wonder.

82
Sputnikmusic

Birth of Violence marks as a regressive, but still enjoyable, chapter in Chelsea Wolfe’s career.

80
Exclaim!

Birth of Violence is a work of art that will please old fans and draw in new listeners too.

80
Q Magazine
Gloominess is nothing new in traditional American music, but Wolfe layers the sorrow with a compelling sense of urgency.
80
Kerrang!

What’s come from this period of regrouping is a masterwork of gothic Americana, a record of glass-like fragility and honesty, and wood-hard resolve that’s as beautiful as it is dark and confessional.

80
Spectrum Culture

Captivating, ethereal, contemplative and cinematic, Birth of Violence is yet another testament to Chelsea Wolfe’s versatility, sonic scope and artistic vision.

80
Mojo
The result is charged and post-apocalyptic.
80
PopMatters

Chelsea Wolfe's creative versatility is on full and fearless display here once more, her music both invigorating and intoxicating on Birth of Violence.

80
The Skinny

Wolfe re-creates a sparseness (albeit with modern production methods) that shows off her best assets, doing more with less.

80
AllMusic

Another triumph, Birth of Violence is a potent -- if hushed -- reminder that Wolfe's intensity never wavers, no matter how she expresses it.

75
Under the Radar

With mercury in her reach, Wolfe recoiled to find freedom, Birth of Violence's folk and country comfortability hitting her resourcefulness in a tornado.

73
Northern Transmissions

Her solemn majesty and ominous elegance are more potent than ever on her newest LP, Birth of Violence.

70
Uncut
The result is an album that displays Wolfe's versatility and ability to stir power from whispers as easily as she does howls.
67
A.V. Club

With melodies that are stretched thin and simplistic lyrics that feel even more so next to the sophisticated arrangements, Birth Of Violence’s dark beauty is like standing outside watching the stars in winter: stark, beautiful, and a little numbing.

50
The Needle Drop

Birth of Violence's stripped back presentation, despite its bewitchingly dark vibe, mostly exacerbates the relatively weak songwriting.

Beeyyaahh
70

On Birth of Violence, Chelsea not only moves about the expectations set upon by her previous work, but also demonstrates the true power of a talented artist doing the most with the smallest amount of sound necessary.

Unlike many other albums written in this vein, Chelsea showcases an album that is progressive and emotionally engaging. Dark and confessional, and much like the cover, depicts someone in the midst of a dark time. Almost armageddon-like, this album doesn’t deal with death in ... read more

JohnLouisHoward
90

this is Chelsea's lost highway, a noir travelogue of the dark corners of existence on the road. touring can be lonely and disorienting and many thoughtful artists end up with songs or albums like this that document those feelings that emerge at 3 am in some town whose name you can't remember or never knew, when it's just you and your acoustic alone in the dark, and you sing songs to yourself that you didn't even know were in you. she is 35 now. she was not going to be that manic apocalyptic ... read more

WhatTheFunk
53

The High Priestess is back for the delight of Gothic rock disciples. The singer-songwriter has built her work with rigor and patience. Today, Chelsea Wolfe has become a venerated reference of this musical genre.

After the tribal electro-folk "Pain is Beauty" - and two rather heavy records with doom metal accents "("Abyss" and "Hiss Spun") - Wolfe released a new album entitled "Birth of Violence". Recorded in her studio with the help of her faithful ... read more

CrocodileDippy
67

Yo I just got to Kangaroo Island today and I've already seen, like, 10 different species of birds. This place rocks. Anyway, having steadily expanded her style with increasing layers of texture and sound, Chelsea Wolfe pulls all the way back on 'Birth of Violence' with a stripped back folk release to return to her roots, with only light synth or string accompaniment to add some extra flavour here and there. It's a bold move to return to brass tacks after all these years having made her fame off ... read more

Movie_Rose
76

In this album, Chelsea Wolfe traces back to her routes. This album feels like a much more polished and better version of her first album, Mistake in Parting. Love almost everything about this album. The runtime felt very short and before I knew it, it was over...

ThEggMcWaffle
82

I respect the hell out of Chelsea for stepping out of her comfort zone here. When Chelsea takes this new folk aesthetic and implements aspects of her usual sound, it works incredibly well. The few times the album doesn't work for me, she's just doing basic folk with a darker twist. Overall, it's a great listen, but a good deal weaker than the other records I've heard from her

Favorite Track: The Mother Road, Deranged for Rock & Roll, or Little Grave

Least Favorite Track: American Darkness

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Added on: June 18, 2019