Howl
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club · 2005
52 min · 14 tracks · alternative rock
A gritty fusion of bluesy rock riffs and haunting melodies that captures a restless spirit.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Shuffle Your Feet Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
-
→
Howl — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its haunting vocals and evocative lyrics that explore themes of despair and longing.
-
→
Devil’s Waitin’ — This track stands out for its driving rhythm and darkly poetic imagery, embodying the tension between hope and despair prevalent throughout the album.
-
→
Weight of the World — The song features an infectious melody paired with reflective lyrics about personal struggle, making it a highlight of the album's emotional landscape.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production choices, though its experimental nature may limit broader appeal.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces slower, more reflective tracks.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies that create a haunting atmosphere, particularly in 'Gospel Song' and 'Sympathetic Noose'.
- The instrumentation often features stripped-down arrangements, with an emphasis on guitar and percussion over keyboards or synths.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo groove throughout
- gritty emotional resonance in lyrics
- reflective moments for quiet introspection
- late-night drives with friends
- haunting melodies that linger
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party anthems
- prefer instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Represents a deliberate departure from their earlier sound, incorporating bluesy elements.
- Themes
- haunted landscapes· spiritual desolation· dark Americana
- Moods
- Melancholy· Chill
- Career context
- Released on August 22, 2005, Howl marked a significant shift for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as their fourth studio album. Following the commercial success of their previous albums, this record showcased a more introspective sound, moving away from their earlier hard rock influences toward a blend of folk and blues elements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Black Angels· The Raveonettes· Death from Above 1979
Tracklist
- 1 Shuffle Your Feet Start here 2:54
- 2 Howl 4:21
- 3 Devil’s Waitin’ 3:50
- 4 Ain’t No Easy Way 2:36
- 5 Still Suspicion Holds You Tight 4:24
- 6 Fault Line 2:57
- 7 Promise 4:46
- 8 Weight of the World 3:41
- 9 Restless Sinner 3:12
- 10 Gospel Song 4:31
- 11 Complicated Situation 2:36
- 12 Sympathetic Noose 4:17
- 13 The Line 5:07
- 14 Open Invitation 3:05
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Brothers
The Black Keys
Shares gritty blues rock influence with haunting melodies and dark themes of love and loss.
Z
My Morning Jacket
Combines atmospheric sounds and introspective lyrics, evoking a sense of spiritual desolation.
Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes
Explores themes of identity and existential struggle with rich harmonies and a folk-inspired sound.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.