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WARBRINGER
Wrath And Ruin

Napalm (2025)
Rating: 5.5/10

US metallers Warbringer, who originally formed back in 2004 (rather bizarrely as Onslaught) were one of the best thrash acts to emerge during the resurgence of the genre. Wrath And Ruin is the seventh full-length album from the quintet and as expected it’s another bombardment that’ll send audiences reeling.

There’s no questioning the consistency of these Californians, but like a lot of bands who emerged around the turn of the millennium they just haven’t been able to step up to the major league. With Wrath And Ruin there’s still that passion and vigour, although at times some of the edge is taken off by forays into traditional and progressive metal.

I guess with any band this far on in their career there will be experimentation and, dare I say it, a lack of hunger which was exhibited during the early albums. However, the diehard fans will still be treated to some aggressive compositions, namely the aptly named ‘The Jackhammer’, and ‘Strike From The Sky’. But to be honest, I’m glad for the more varied songs such as ‘Cage Of Air’ with its Opeth nuances because much of the pacier stuff is just generic.

I can most certainly get swept up by the savagery of it all as vocalist John Kevill spits out routine chops, but the band is more effective on the steadier, brooding ‘Through A Glass, Darkly’ and the almost power metal infused ‘The Last Of My Kind’, but on the whole the album just grates. Opener ‘The Sword And The Cross’ is clean cut but hefty, especially the slamming percussion, although ‘A Better World’ and ‘Neuromancer’ are just dull and underwhelming.

Strangely, Wrath And Ruin feels far longer than the 40 minute runtime and after several spins I’m not crying out for more. No longer do these guys bring war, instead they are huffing and puffing at the pipes of peace.

Neil Arnold

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