Emerging from Savona, Italy, Wild Cats make their formal introduction with “A Bone to Pick,” a four-track debut EP released on February 25, 2026. Following the singles “Envy” (2025) and “Cross Rose” (2026), this record constitutes the first official chapter of the band’s discography — a concise but telling document of a young act navigating the intersection of Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, and Alternative Metal with a degree of compositional intent that goes beyond the expected for a debut release. The EP opens with its most immediate statement. “Error (404)” is a dense, rhythmically driven piece that establishes the band’s core sonic identity from its first measures: a modern Heavy Rock foundation enriched by Progressive elaborations, where tempo shifts redirect the narrative between direct, muscular riffing and more structurally intricate passages. The lead vocal is assertive and dynamic, holding its own against the instrumental weight while integrating naturally into the band’s ensemble approach. As an opening track, it communicates intent clearly — this is a band with a defined sound, not merely a collection of influences. The EP’s most atmospheric and compositionally refined moment. “Cross Rose” opens with interlocking guitar arpeggios and bass lines woven into a rhythmically assured foundation, the vocal delivering an expressive, enveloping performance that elevates the material considerably. The song operates within a darker Progressive Rock sensibility — melancholic, layered, deliberate — building through carefully constructed passages of vocals and instrumentation before the second half opens into heavier territory. A tasteful guitar solo anchors the emotional peak of the piece, and the gradual escalation into a more intense concluding section demonstrates an awareness of dynamic arc that is genuinely encouraging in an act at this stage. “Envy” shifts the register back toward Hard Rock, leading with a more direct riff-driven approach and a rawer vocal tone. The progressive instincts remain present, however, surfacing through rhythmic variation and guitar work that balances incisive riffing with melodic soloing. The track maintains the band’s characteristic tendency toward a crescendo finale, building outward from its initial structural framework into a more expansive conclusion. As the effective closer of the EP’s main sequence, it holds its ground. The EP concludes with an acoustic rendering of its second track, “Cross Rose – Acoustic Version,” stripping the arrangement back to guitar and voice. The exercise is not merely decorative — it reveals the underlying strength of the composition and, importantly, the range and expressiveness of the frontwoman’s voice without the shelter of a full band arrangement. It is a quiet but confident final statement. “A Bone to Pick” is a debut EP that does what a debut EP should: it introduces a band with a coherent identity, demonstrates technical and compositional capability across a range of dynamics, and leaves a listener with a clear enough picture of what Wild Cats are building toward. Four tracks — effectively three original compositions — do not constitute a full artistic statement, nor should they be held to that standard. What is here, however, is solid, considered, and shows genuine potential. A name worth noting.
Tracklist
01. Error (404) (3:59)
02. Cross Rose (4:17)
03. Envy – EP Version (4:32)
04. Cross Rose – Scoustic Version (3:45)
Lineup
Alice Vigliola / Vocals
Riccardo Bo / Guitar and Backing Vocals
Letizia Buelli / Bass and Backing Vocals
Brian Aschiero / Drums