Album Review: Wraith – Fueled By Fear (Prosthetic Records)

Indiana blackened thrash metallers Wraith has joined Prosthetic Records and will release their brand-new album, ‘Fueled By Fear’ via their new home on June 28th, 2024.

Classic thrash and heavy freaking metal with punk spirit, Wraith’s goal on this new album is really simple to understand. They want you head banging as hard as humanely possible. Something that comes very easy with 14-tracks of riffy, groovy, and furious sounding metal.

Wraith are back and back with a bang, kicking off riff-heaven with the ballsy instrumental opener, Asylum. Before moving smoothly into a different gear with the thrash-tastic title track. The vocals are here, the tempo has increased, and things are sounding particularly devilish thanks to the blackened touch Wraith has.

It’s an extra layer that helps make Wraith stand out and not just come across as a retro-thrash metal band with a punk mentality. Even if that is a part of their overall make-up. Who’s complaining though when you get forceful bangers like Horses and Hounds, Shame in Suffering and Code Red? The riffs, it’s the f**king riffs. Wraith have more than the average band and utilise them so well.

Following a strong infusion of punk with Ice Cold Bitch, it’s time for the most blackened sounding track of all with Warlord. This side of Wraith has a rawness that cuts through like a hot knife though soft flesh. Is it as exciting as something as frenzied as Merchant of Death though? That’s debatable, and there’s certainly an argument to be made that Fueled By Fear is at its best when Wraith are going hard and heavy.

Hench the electrifying thrills that shoots through the body courtesy of Heath’s Touch and Vulture. Which isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with the longer and more elaborate tracks around those two like Hell’s Canyon, Shattered Sorrow, and Truth Decay. Each big and garish numbers with tons of heavy metal life. Ensuring the fire is still in the veins as The Breaking Wheel delivers one last crashing and smashing blast of horn throwing and head banging noise.

Wraith have brought their A-game here, and achieved their goal to get you head banging as hard as humanely possible with ease.

Wraith – Fueled By Fear Track Listing:

1. Asylum
2. Fueled by Fear
3. Horses and Hounds
4. Shame in Suffering
5. Code Red
6. Ice Cold Bitch
7. Warlord
8. Merchant of Death
9. Heathen’s Touch
10. Hell’s Canyon
11. Vulture
12. Shattered Sorrow
13. Truth Decay
14. The Breaking Wheel

Links

Bandcamp | Spotify | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter