Review WARBRINGER “Wrath and Ruin”

Ventura, California is home to several metal bands. Cirith Ungol hails from there, as does Night Demon. Thrash metal also has a home there, as Warbringer have their headquarters in the Californian city.

Warbringer started in 2004 and released a sixth longplayer so far. Their latest record is dated 2020 and is called “Weapons of Tomorrow”. Five years later the next longplayer is ready to hit the shelves. “Wrath and Ruin” is the upcoming strike of the West Coast metal force, which recorded eight new songs.

The lead single from the album is “A Better World”, a thrash metal blast. A high tempo and furious riffs characterize the song, which also shows a good feel for melodies. “A Better World” is certainly not a melodic ear candy, but there are some subtle melodies woven into the smashing metal track.

“Wrath and Ruin” contains two types of songs, if you will. There are the short and furious thrash metal blasts like “A Better World”. The merciless “The Jackhammer” is another neck breaker in this category and “Strike from the Sky” follows the same principle. The latter begins with a furious riff and a bloodcurdling scream from frontman John Kevill.

In addition to these stripped down metal songs, the album also contains music that shows a broader approach than just pushing the pedal to the metal. The opener “The Sword and the Cross” belongs to this category, but also “Neuromancer” adds an extra twist to the speed attack. The latter is a slower paced riff monster that slowly but surely creeps into your subconscious.

The acoustic beginning of “Cage of Air” is the starting point for a nearly seven minute thrash metal track that shows what’s possible within the genre. What starts with an epic feel turns into a massive thrash metal outburst with dueling guitars. A more atmospheric section in the last third gives the song a twist that demonstrates the versatility that thrash metal can offer.

Last but not least there is the brilliant closer “The Last of My Kind”, a song about faith and willpower. Musically, it is a well-crafted thrash metal track that sprays a lot of power and at the same time comes with some cleverly integrated tempo changes. The song is a smashing finale of an album that is a treat for the headbanging community.

With an album like “Wrath and Pain”, Warbringer cement their position in contemporary thrash metal. Remembering the roots of thrash metal, the five-piece adds a modern twist to their songs, leading to an album that is a challenge for your neck muscles.