Album Review: Wristmeetrazor – Degeneration (Prosthetic Records)

Returning from a period of intense and concentrated seclusion in its purest form, Wristmeetrazor make their return in 2024 with their upcoming third album, ‘Degeneration’. The US metalcore outfit’s latest full length will be released via Prosthetic Records on March 29th, 2024.

Back, and back with a f**king bang. Wristmeetrazor are in a scathing and scornful mood on this new album. Sounding positively incandescent with rage, but still capable of being oddly anthemic. Although it’s the former that is front and centre for the opening blast of noise that is Turn On, Tune In, Drop Dead. There’s thrashy undertones here, mixed with hardcore intensity, and some nu-touches that are notable as well. It crashes and smashes with undue force and sets the aggression bar high.

Though, it should come as no surprise that it’s a bar that keeps on going up, although in some surprising ways. Take Static Reckoning as an example. It’s a more melodically charged metal track, almost melodeath to some degree, and has a dazzling chorus that is very catchy.

Then there is the manic ferocity of Trepanation, a real nasty one, and the vigorous head-banger that is Xeroxed Reflection. The clean singing in the latter is f**king phenomenal and really gives this track a grander feel. Even though it also happens to have a breakdown that will shatter bones.

How about some EDM touches? It’s no joke, it’s DogdayGod and it’s f**king insane. At this stage, it’s evidently clear this album is going to keep surprising. It’s also going to cause some physical damage, neck-based damage, as Love Thy Enmity, and Culled and Forgotten compel a dangerous amount of head banging. The latter is only 50 seconds long, and it is so savage sounding.

The infectious ruthlessness continues to hit with so much force as the album enters its latter stages. First, with the stompy sinister and cold feverishness of Synthetic-51n. Then, with the garish and ugly speed of No Ceremony. Followed by even heavier guitars and drums, and even more twisted sounding vocals with The Vanity Procession. Has it been mentioned enough yet just how f**king harsh this album is?

So, why the hell is it so damn listenable? That’s the creative talents of Wristmeetrazor, who make each and every track special in its own way. Hence, why the final two tracks; Negative Fix and Greatest Love Offering in the History of the World, are so memorable too. There’s not a bad track here, and the more times you listen to it, the better it seems to get. Outstanding stuff.

Wristmeetrazor – Degeneration Track Listing:

1. Turn On, Tune In, Drop Dead
2. Static Reckoning
3. Trepanation
4. Xeroxed Reflection
5. DogdayGod
6. Love Thy Enmity
7. Culled and Forgotten
8. Synthetic-51n
9. No Ceremony
10. The Vanity Procession
11. Negative Fix
12. Greatest Love Offering in the History of the World

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