Wolver Talk New EP, Latest Single And More

Nov 1, 2025 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Polymath PR

Originating from Karlstad, Sweden, this trio weaves heavy, riff-driven rock with grand harmonies and immersive storytelling. Their latest EP ‘Act II: Scene I – Birth of an Empire’ is out now. We chatted to the band about the release and more:

Who is in Wolver, how did you meet and what do you play?

We’re a three-piece band consisting of me, Marcus, aka The Protagonist, and I sing and play the guitar. Elias, The Brawler, is our drummer and also sings backing vocals. I met Elias on the first day of college – we clicked instantly and basically became inseparable right away. A couple years later, I met Erik, The Bard, who had already been working with Elias for some years. We bonded over our love of music, and when we needed a guitarist, he jumped in immediately. As for vocals… well, we kind of forced him into singing backing vocals too, and he just rode with it. It all just clicked.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Music has always been part of my family – my mom and sister both sang in choirs – so I grew up surrounded by it. I was always a fan, but I was more focused on acting as a kid. That all changed the first time I heard Blink-182 in my early teens; in that moment, I knew that music was what I wanted to dedicate my life to.

When did you begin songwriting?

I started songwriting the first time I picked up a guitar. I was actually lucky – the first song I ever wrote turned out pretty well, and discovering that feeling of creating something I was proud of made me want to keep doing it. Writing is my favorite part of being a musician. It can be tedious at times, but once you get into the flow, there’s nothing better.

You have your new EP ‘Act II: Scene I – Birth of an Empire’ out now. How did you want to approach the making of the EP?

With Act II: Scene I – Birth of an Empire, we wanted to approach it with a balance between staying true to our roots and reaching a wider audience. Our lyrics have always leaned political, but this time we worked on making the themes more relatable and accessible, while still keeping that cinematic feel from our previous record. The closing track, Prophecy, is a good example – it takes a more personal turn, dealing with self-doubt, which adds another layer to the storytelling. Overall, our approach was to create something that still feels epic and thought-provoking, but also invites more people into our world.

Where did you record the EP and who produced it?

We recorded the whole EP in Karlskoga, in what you could almost call a bedroom studio. It was small and cozy, but still felt professional and gave us the perfect environment to really focus on the music. We co-produced it with our good friend Gustav Ydenius, who helped bring the songs to life exactly the way we envisioned.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

The funniest thing about our recording sessions is imagining what they’d be like without our producer, Gustav. Honestly, it would probably just be a couple of grown men arguing over which effects or guitar sounds are ‘best’—and which ones should be banished from the track forever. We’re confident in our own abilities, so even if I lose an argument and Elias wins, I know the song will turn out great. Gustav’s like the ultimate referee—he keeps us from dissolving into chaos and somehow makes the whole process smoother and actually productive!

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

We tried a lot of different microphones and amps, but honestly, sometimes it felt like the real magic came from sheer willpower – and maybe a little caffeine.

Which of your new EP tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Our happiest-sounding track is definitely same2me. It’s upbeat and fun on the surface, but if you dive into the lyrics, it’s actually heavily inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, which gives it a darker edge. The angriest track has to be soapboX Preacher—it carries this raw energy, with distorted vocals and a lot of frustration poured into it. And the most reflective song is without a doubt Prophecy. It really digs into self-doubt and that inner struggle, with lines like ‘I’m a self-fulfilling prophecy, my demons always get the best of me; if you’d personify a tragedy, then you’d end up with me.

Was it a difficult EP to write?

Overall, the writing process for the EP went pretty smoothly. The big exception was COLOSSEUM—without a doubt the hardest song we’ve ever written. It went through so many different versions, changing genres and tempos countless times before we finally nailed it. Honestly, if there was ever a point where the band might’ve disbanded, it was during that song. Thankfully, we pushed through, and in the end it turned out better than we could’ve hoped.

Who designed the EP artwork?

Our artwork was illustrated by the brilliant Daniel Nagy. He’s been behind all of our visuals so far and always manages to bring our ideas to life in a really striking way.

You have also released the single ‘Vegas Hustler’ out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

I actually wrote the hook, first verse, and chorus of Vegas Hustler way back in 2014. The inspiration came from watching the movie 21, where they’re counting cards at the blackjack table, and at the same time I was listening to a new Imagine Dragons track. Somehow those two things collided, and the song just came out. For years, Elias and our former guitarist Filip kept pushing me to finish it, but I never got around to it. When we started working on the EP and needed new material, I revisited it – and this time, the structure and second verse came together almost immediately.

Do you have a visualiser to accompany the single?

For Vegas Hustler, we actually made a full music video. We did almost everything ourselves, putting a lot of work into it, and we’re really proud of how it turned out.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Our hometown is Karlstad – five words? Where the sun always shines.

How do you look after your voices?

I try not to drink the night before – lesson learned the hard way, trust me, croaky vocals are no fun! I do daily vocal exercises, make sure to rest when I’m tired, and drink an absurd amount of water. Basically, I try to treat my voice like a delicate plant… that also occasionally needs to scream.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025/2026?

As soon as the EP is out, we’ll be putting our full focus on touring and are definitely hoping to make it to the UK. We have a few exciting opportunities in the pipeline, but nothing official to announce just yet.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

When we leave the stage, we hope to be absolutely drenched in sweat and, at the same time, to have given the crowd an experience they won’t forget.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

Personally, I love experimenting with new gear, but since we’re a three-piece, I usually have to play guitar or piano while performing. With these new tracks, I actually get the chance to perform without any instrument and focus mainly on vocals, which feels really liberating.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

You can’t get asked this question and not mention a Bond movie—that would be blasphemy! I’d love to write the score for a Bond adaptation, because the combination of suspense, action, and drama is the perfect playground for music. It’s cinematic, bold, and just so much fun to play with creatively.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Of course, everyone knows Muse, but I want to highlight a slightly lesser-known band called De Staat. They’re insanely creative, full of groove, and I absolutely love their music. I’d highly recommend checking them out if you haven’t already.

What makes Wolver happy and what makes you unhappy?

Wolver is happy when people are happy. People are happy when Wolver is performing – so, naturally, Wolver should perform. Unhappy? When people are sad, and people are sad when Wolver isn’t performing – so, again, Wolver should perform!