I’d had a bad week and was in a foul mood, in need of release from the claustrophobia of everyday life, desperate for something aggressive to help me let go of some of my angst…….Thankfully Wratheon were near the top of the review pile.
I have to admit, Wratheon were a new name to me, and as far as I can tell it is a solo project, hailing from the United States and over the course of five tracks and about sixteen minutes, Wratheon takes an anti-oppression, anti-authoritarian stance through malicious blackened thrash.
Opening track ‘In Séance’ pulls no punches, with galloping rhythms and incisive riffing serving as the bedrock for abrasive vocals which are spit forth with venom. Glorious guitar work provides the melody and for all of the track’s hostility, it remains accessible. This blueprint is carried forward into ‘A Fire Burns’, although to me this had a little more of a black metal feel towards it, perhaps bringing Immortal to mind, as the snarled vocals continue to pour disdain on modern society. In contrast, ‘With Crimson Eyes’, perhaps leans a little more towards the thrash side of the fence as it continues its malevolent offensive against systemic societal oppression.
The EP continues with a potent but poignant instrumental, ‘Life’ before closing with ‘Unescapable Null’ which is a really gnarly blast of blackened thrash and rounds off the EP nicely.
These five tracks are confrontational, aggressive and full of venom and disdain. They are an angry, rampaging blackened thrash protest against deceit and oppression, pulling together hints of thrash, black and death metal into one vitriolic melting pot that left me wanting more. I hope an album is on the way sooner rather than later.
(8.5/10 Andy Pountney)
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