The century-old Wolf’s Law says that our bones can adapt themselves to carry increasingly heavier loads over time; the more stress we place on our bones, the more resistant they become to these external pressures. There seems to be no better testament to this theory than Welsh band The Joy Formidable, who have played alongside the likes of Muse and the Foo Fighters, and made notable appearances at Glastonbury, Reading, and Leeds. The title of their sophomore album is an apt description of their sound, which has endured the test of time to evolve into something remarkable with this second release.

After extensive touring in recent years, the effects of being on an international platform are evident in The Joy Formidable’s music; Wolf’s Law is lyrically saturated with political references. The aggressive, rhythmically captivating “Maw Maw Song” alludes to consumerism, whereas “The Leopard and the Lung” is a tip of the hat to Kenyan environmental, and women’s rights activist Wangari Maathai. There are occasional fitful bouts of soul-searching, such as in “Tendons,” an emotionally-charged track that captures vocalist Ritzy Bryan’s relationship with bassist Rhydian Dafydd. Though most of the album follows a single, unrelenting trajectory, Bryan’s vocals shine through on slower tracks, such as “Silent Treatment” and “The Turnaround.”

Through the course of eleven tracks, The Joy Formidable have shown themselves capable of living up to their album’s name. Rather than caving into the excitement and hype surrounding Wolf’s Law, the band has emerged sounding more promising and resilient than ever before.