Review WILDHUNT “Aletheia”

Wildhunt is a band coming from Austria. The band was founded in 2011 and released their debut album, entitled “Descending,” in 2016. Since then, they have not released any new music, except for a single and a split release.

Ten years after debuting, Wildhunt is returning with their second album. “Aletheia” will hit the shelves at the beginning of 2026, marking a new chapter for the Austrian metal band.

Although the epic intro might give a slightly different impression, Wildhunt is into thrash metal. “Touching the Ground” is the name of the three-and-a-half-minute opening track. The song begins calm and atmospheric, but as it progresses, it evolves into a more intense and heavy sound. “The Holy Pale” is next, and it starts with a strong, fast rhythm and a powerful riff. With a few subtle alterations and a slightly more multifaceted approach, the auditory experience evoked by Wildhunt bears a similarity to the works of bands like Paradox. This approach leads to rather long songs, with “Sole Voyage” being the eleven-minute finale.

“Sole Voyage” showcases a band that doesn’t rely solely on pure speed and heaviness. Each song has an atmospheric quality that resonates well through the end of the album. “Sole Voyage” also demonstrates the band’s development over the last ten years, as there is more finesse in the album and closing track.

The title track is an example of the four-piece band’s improvement. The song maintains a moderate pace, reflecting more epic metal than traditional thrash metal. The latter is what defines “Made Man,” a rather versatile headbanger that also shows the band’s progress.

It took the band one decade to get the sophomore album out in the record stores. Although it is a rather long time, it seems that Wildhunt has used the years to develop and refine their sound. While the new album might not raise the bar for thrash metal, it is a fierce metal album that will find many fans in the denim-and-leather community.