Reviewed by Andy Shaw

The Message Trust has been responsible for producing great music for around 30 years now from the origins of World Wide Message Tribe through LZ7 to the present day where their roster includes artists such as Galactus Jack, BrightLine and SoulBox. Amongst Wolves are one of the latest additions to this Manchester-based charity, using their brand of rock to reach out to schools and young people both locally, nationally and internationally. 'Unspoken' is a six-track EP that was first released in 2017 and introduces a sound that has influences from pop punk and post hardcore with the powerful female lead vocals and funky riffs and bass lines bringing comparisons to the likes of Paramore. Opener "So Much More" is a high energy track that is sure to get your head banging with big guitar hooks that build up to a catchy chorus carrying the message "You were made for so much more, what you waiting for." As a band with an evangelical mission to reach out to young people, the lyrics are a key component and they succeed in being both encouraging and uplifting, building hope without ever patronising. "Bottles" and "Happy Ever After" provide further upbeat, danceable rock anthems talking of coping with struggles in life and pointing to God as the answer with gang vocals declaring "You promised me a brand new start, repair the fractures of my heart." The spoken word section that closes "Kinsukuroi" further demonstrates the band's ability to write powerful words in a way that is so accessible and is sure to have an impact on those that hear it. It will be interesting to see what comes next from this band, with lead singer Kariss having left the band this year to be replaced with a male vocalist, but if they carry on the form from this EP it will be essential listening.

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