WARBRINGER

"Wrath and Ruin" (Century Media; 2025)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Sometimes, you know of a band, you like a band, you respect a band ... but you never get around to listening to them. That's my situation with Warbringer and, I've got to admit, that's a big mistake on my part.

It's been so long that I've listened to a Warbringer album that I nearly forgot what the band sounded like. By the time the first track, "The Sword and the Cross," came to a close, I was fully back on board. (And I was a little ashamed that I hadn't been listening more regularly).

"Wrath and Ruin" is a devastatingly powerful heavy metal album, with furiously roaring guitars, power driver rhythms and vocals that are rough and raw but never veer into demonic growl territory. Each track is a crushing tsunami of sound that crashes over you and envelopes you and doesn't let go until it fades away. This album demands to be played at the loudest volume you can stand, and to be listened to in a room where you can move around, because it's going to make you want to jump and mosh and sing along and play furious air guitar to. Please don't listen when driving.

And Warbringer is head and shoulders above most of the other metal bands out there when it comes to lyrics. Theirs are sharp and smart, each song telling a different story or delivering a unique theme or emotion. I've never been one to pay deep attention to lyrics but the words on "Wrath and Ruin" made me sit up and listen more closely. And they're delivered with emotional and dramatic precision by vocalist John Kevill.

"Wrath and Ruin" is so fucking good that, as I sit and write this review, I can't wait to listen to it again. And to dig out all those other Warbringer recordings that I've pushed to the side over the past few years. I think I've

For more information, check out https://www.warbringermusic.com/.

"Waking Into Nightmares" (Century Media; 2009)

Reviewed by Metal Mark

Sometimes familiarity can actually be a good thing if it’s done right. Like a comfortable chair, for instance. The retro thrash scene of recent years is based on familiar patterns and all too often these bands don’t do anything wrong per se, but still manage to sound rather routine. It’s like they think just because they played their vinyl copies of “Hell Awaits” and “Terrible Certainty” to death that they can go out and plop down something that will have the kids in high top Nikes falling over their tired, old material.

Fortunately, there have been a few bands from this trend that are worth checking out. Warbringer are not going to save the thrash scene, but they do attempt to liven it up with pure volume and intensity. It’s like they took prime Testament, Exodus, Metallica and Slayer and then shoved them into a blender, poured it out and cranked it up. There may be nothing original here, but you don’t have time to think about that during the record because Warbringer are too busy kicking you in the head with some of the most instantly likable thrash this side of 1987.

Seriously, they are relentless enough that they just rip it up, but they keep the sound clear and coherent enough that you can absorb all that is being cranked out. On this release they also are developing the skills where they slow the pace down a little without missing a beat and move back and forth between the styles without losing any of their aggression. Yes, they are becoming better songwriters and making it look easy.

I have had far too many occasions where I play a disc by a new thrash band and I stop it halfway through to go listen to a classic by the likes of Overkill or Destruction just because I would rather hear that than a cheap copy. That’s not the case with Warbringer because they just keep pushing forward and their confidence, plus the tightly woven sound, has me thinking they could be a band who I will be definitely be listening to for some time.

For more information, check out https://www.warbringermusic.com/.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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