Warbringer – Wrath and Ruin
Reviewed by: James Thomas
Review Score: 10
The wait is over! After five years, American thrashers, Warbringer, have returned at last with their latest offering, “Wrath and Ruin”, set for release on March 14, 2025, on Napalm Records. Has it been worth it to endure the longest gap between releases in the band’s career thus far? The answer is a resounding YES. This fresh slab of full-on thrash assault is sure to have you wrecking your neck from start to finish. Keep your local chiropractor on stand-by.
Let’s dive into the tracks, shall we?
1) The Sword and the Cross – 6:07
The album kicks off with a 6-minute banger. And, right out of the gate, the listener is treated to a great “build-up” intro that really sets the tone for the album nicely. When front man John Kevill’s vocals kick in with their trademark ferocity, you had better have your seatbelt buckled. The verses are fast, and the chorus is even faster. The first guitar solo of the album comes courtesy of Chase Becker, after which the song slows the pace down a bit. This makes for a very cool semi-melodic section around the midway point of the song. The band hits you with another great solo section from Becker and rhythm guitarist, Adam Carroll, while the mid-paced tempo continues. The song ends with an appropriately ominous tone. And this thrash ride is just beginning.
2) A Better World – 3:45
We get a shorter second song, which keeps the thrash attack going by kicking off in ferocious fashion. This one takes on the feel of an old-school death metal sound about two-thirds of the way through with some furious double bass drumming from Mr. Cruz before launching into a face-melting solo. Becker and Carroll do a nice job trading off with the solos here. And, of course, John Kevill spits venom in this track, proclaiming that a better kind of world is not possible, as he does a fantastic job of taking the listener through this dark journey.
3) Neuromancer – 5:28
Track number three begins with a brief, slower intro, but it doesn’t take long to kick into a nice groove with some more double bass drumming. The strumming pattern for the guitars is very fast as the drums plod along, adding another dimension to the mix. This song strikes a nice balance between speed and groove. The drumming from Carlos Cruz remains a highlight throughout the song, and once again, there are some fantastic leads here. Just past the midway point of the song, Carroll and Becker trade off with more killer soloing. Kevill’s vocals are guttural throughout, bordering once more on a kind of death metal delivery.
4) The Jackhammer – 3:15
“The Jackhammer” comes roaring out of the gate. This song largely dispenses with groove, opting instead to employ an all-out thrash attack that gloriously pummels the listener. Lyrically, this track is venomous – with references to being curb-stomped into asphalt and becoming a stain on concrete. What could be more “thrash” than that? Kevill screams “the hammer is your fate!” as the song comes to a sudden end. This one is no-frills – an incredibly well-executed song.
5) Through a Glass, Darkly – 4:58
Understandably, the listener will now be laid out on the mat, attempting to get back up. If this album offers any respite during which to do so, the softer, more melodic intro for track number five, “Through a Glass, Darkly” is as good of a time to try as any. Don’t be fooled, though. Even as Kevill comes in with a whisper, the song gives way to a crushing mid-paced tempo with a thundering rhythm section. This track contains a very menacing chorus reminiscent of the gothic sounds of Cradle of Filth (even vocally), which is a major highlight. The guitars remain melodic throughout, and as Kevill painfully proclaims “once more I suffer, and once more I strive”, the emotion is undeniable. The listener to treated to more fantastic soloing as well. The gothic feel is present throughout the song, making it a very well-rounded track that remains mid-tempo. Warbringer shows their incredible versatility here.
6) Strike from the Sky – 3:44
Back to the trademark thrash assault with “Strike from the Sky”. This one comes screaming out of the gate, and the chorus is brief and to the point, with Kevill shrieking “strike!” – a very nice touch as he seems to channel his inner Tom Araya. The song structure here is perfect for a short, crushing tune. It’s not all speed, as the pace slows down at one point in the song before Kevill again says “strike from the sky”! A killer solo follows from Becker, and the song comes to a close with a short, blazing solo as well. This is an absolutely fantastic track containing everything great about thrash.
7) Cage of Air – 6:50
The album concludes with back-to-back 6-plus-minute tracks, the first of which is “Cage of Air”. This one utilizes another slower intro with melodic guitar work setting the stage. The furious drumming can be heard fading in as the song really begins to take off. The listener is treated to a nice heavy lead before Kevill’s vocals kick in after about a minute and a half. There are lyrical references to technology, which can be found every so often on the album.
Even though there are no physical “bars” around him, Kevill talks about feeling trapped by forces unseen, hence the “cage of air” – a very cool concept. More tasty solos from Carroll and Becker rear their heads about two-thirds of the way through the song before the pace slows a bit – all the way down to the melodic guitar lines heard in the intro. Some haunting keys can be heard feeding the atmosphere with gothic flourishes, which conjures more Cradle of Filth vibes as the final minute of the song progresses and Kevill lets out a scream that Dani Filth, himself, would be proud of. The ominous ending prepares the listener for the final track.
8) The Last of My Kind – 6:01
The final track, “The Last of My Kind”, has an intro that evokes a “classical music” feel and sets the tone nicely. But if that’s not really your thing, fear not! This one only takes about 30 seconds for the ferocious thrash attack to begin, while Kevill lets out an otherworldly scream. A mid-paced tempo marches forward, as the first verse begins, eventually giving way to more speed. The unique melodic guitar work during the chorus is yet another example of how Warbringer keeps the listener engaged.
Another solo melts the listener’s face before the song slows down and then builds up again. Lyrically, the song is dark, yet there is a resolute defiance that Kevill does an incredible job portraying. Once he spews the final lyrics of the album, we are treated to yet another fantastic solo – and yes, the gothic flourishes continue and are tastefully utilized to the perfect degree. Kevill lets out one final agonized scream as the album ends on gloriously epic note.
To sum things up, this is an absolutely incredible album, and the argument could easily be made that this is the most well-rounded effort of the band’s career thus far. This raging monster has a little bit of everything – from speed to groove, from being ferocious to contemplative, from brutality to gothic beauty. It was a long 5-year wait, but fans will find that it was well worth it to have the opportunity to revel in this incredible slab of thrash. If you’re a fan of thrash but haven’t yet heard Warbringer, this a fantastic place to start. And for all of you seasoned Warbringer fans, just prepare yourselves for an absolute privilege, because this is the band’s best work yet!
Lineup
John Kevill – Lead vocals
Chase Becker – Lead guitar; backing vocals
Adam Carroll – Rhythm guitar; backing vocals
Chase Bryant – Bass
Carlos Cruz – Drums