Afton Wolfe – ‘Ophiuchus’ [Album Review]

Singer-songwriter Afton Wolfe releases his sophomore album, a concept album built around the title Ophiuchus, a constellation also known as the ‘Serpent Bearer,’ that some believe is the 13th sign of the zodiac.

The Sun will enter Ophiuchus on November 30, the date the album drops. Since December of last year, a new single from the album has been released as the Sun moved through the zodiac.

Talking about the album, Wolfe says, “I’m trying to cast a complex Magic spell, the purpose of which is not fully known to me.”

Wolfe arrived with the release of his EP, Petronius’ Last Meal, followed by his debut album, Kings for Sale, and more singles and EPs. Wolfe’s sound blends elements of Southern soul, country, blues, gospel, and jazz into music that some liken to Tom Waits, probably because both artists have raspy voices.

Of the 13 tracks on Ophiuchus, highlights include the title track, a Celtic-flavored rock song full of dramatic sonic gestures – big energy and heavy resonance.

The country blues textures of “I Deserve to be Forgiven” roll on undulating waves of melancholy, topped by Wolfe’s gravelly vocals, rationalizing why he should be forgiven for a life of offences.

According to Wolfe, “This obviously extended from a lifetime of making mistakes, distilled into a specific discussion and a universal sentiment.”

On “Rules of War,” a Latin samba-tinted tune, the sensuously swaying melody evokes a dreamy soundscape, while the thrust of the lyrics narrates a ghastly scenario about war. Brass accents give the tune a voluptuous mood.

Afton Wolfe, photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

The jazz-lite/gospel feel of the Procol Harum-like “Ascetic Sleep Song No. 4” drifts and glides, revealing a dreamscape mistiness. A personal favorite because of its charming melodic motion, “Rushing Back” evokes memories dipped in wonderfully aching nostalgia. Softly sliding horns add luscious, sensitive tenderness.

“The inspiration for this Song came from trying to write a biographical Song about a friend who had passed away. That Song was impossible to finish because it was so emotional, and there were so many details that I wanted to include. It kept expanding and extending and digging further into a kind of grand minutiae. I’m still not done with that Song, but this Song depicted the feeling I had while trying to write that Song,” Wolfe explains.

“Last King of the Blues” summons up suggestions of Tom Waits with its bluesy soul surfaces. Whereas the closing track, “Invocation,” offers a mystical milieu of airy coloration as Afton shows listeners the gentle side of his voice.

Intimate and immediate, visceral and marinated in passionate emotions, Ophiuchus is at once simple, complex, and top-notch.

Ophiuchus Track Listing:

1. Ophiuchus
2. I Deserve to be Forgiven
3. Rules of War
4. Dream Song
5. Crooke Roads
6. Ascetic Sleep Song No. 4
7. Sphere Shift
8. Rushing Back
9. One Million Children
10. Last King of the Blues
11. Forgive Yourself
12. Winter Comes For Mary
13. Invocation

Run Time: 58:08
Release Date: November 30, 2025
Record Label: Grandiflora Records/CEN/The Orchard

Upcoming shows:

11/30 – Nashville, TN – 5point6 Gallery (Album Release)
12/5 – Nashville, TN – The 5 Spot (20th Annual Tom Waits Tribute & Benefit)
12/9 – Livestream – Music My Mother Would Not Like (8pm ET)
1/14-18 – Todos Santos, Baja, MX – Tropic of Cancer Music & Arts Fest