Dutch heavy blues rock trio DeWolff are not exactly the most modern-sounding band on the circuit, and that is precisely the point. Their sound draws heavily from seventies hard rock luminaries such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, with touches of southern rock and psychedelia woven throughout. On paper, it reads as retro, yet these are fundamentally timeless elements. There is no sense of nostalgia or pastiche here, only passion and commitment.
Much of the band’s identity stems from Robin Piso’s Hammond organ, which provides its defining texture, evoking the burnished, overdriven tones of Burn-era Deep Purple. Around that core, the trio operates with remarkable cohesion.
Singer and guitarist Pablo van den Poel is a manic, magnetic presence, equal parts showman and bandleader. He moves constantly, engages the crowd in chants, hands out merchandise (including DeWolff-branded socks!) and delivers blues-drenched, lysergic solos with a sense of abandon that feels entirely unforced. Behind him, his brother Luka carries the considerable responsibility of anchoring the performance, his drumming both heavy and flexible, providing structure without ever weighing the music down.
What emerges is not an exercise in revivalism, but a performance rooted in a deep understanding of the form. DeWolff are not preserving a sound so much as extending it, keeping it active and relevant through sheer energy and conviction. Oh yea, and they rock pretty hard, too!
