Another fiery declaration from Warbringer.
To celebrate the twenty-year milestone, the band led by John Kevill (vocals), Adam Carroll (guitar), Carlos Cruz (drums, Nails, NecroSound), Chase Becker (guitar, Exmortus) and Chase Bryant (bass, Oni, Questing Beast) unveil their seventh album, Wrath and Ruin, via their label Napalm Records.
The band open The Sword And The Cross with an ominous sample, but it’s not long before the warlike riffs burst in and take us along with them on their jerky advance tinged with aggressive Old School patterns. Heavier touches are occasionally heard, as in the catchy break before the solo, then the fury guides us back to A Better World, where violence is more vividly expressed but just as effectively, aligning piercing leads with the furious rhythm. The atmosphere initially becomes darker with Neuromancer, but rage soon returns to tint the riffs which remain heavier and occasionally allow themselves a few more complex passages, such as the bass melodies or the solo, before The Jackhammer brings us back to these wild, unbridled sounds. The sound slows down halfway through, but remains motivating before Through A Glass, Darkly exposes us to a touch of melancholy that makes the sound very different yet interesting, putting aside pure rage to explore more melodic territory while retaining solid riffs. As its name suggests, Strike From The Sky is no slouch, going back to its Thrash roots at full speed to strike, and even when the track slows down, the backing vocals reinforce it, developing an interesting contrast with the soaring introduction of Cage Of Air quickly overtaken by the blast. Whether for a moment you think you’re listening to Black Metal, it’s with Thrash’s strength that the rhythmic bludgeons us, regularly changing approach thanks to its long duration, as in the clean break before the final explosions followed by The Last of My Kind, where the keyboards return to morose sounds before the final surge that takes us through several waves of violence, but also a unifying moment and the perfect final to close the band’s concerts.
For as long as I can remember, Warbringer have always delivered quality material, and Wrath and Ruin is no different. You know me to be a relative Thrash naysayer, but this album’s an easy listen!
85/100