Wrath and Ruin
| Wrath and Ruin | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 14, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | 2024 | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal[1] | |||
| Length | 40:06 | |||
| Label | Napalm | |||
| Producer | Mark Lewis | |||
| Warbringer chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Wrath and Ruin | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 7.5/10[5] |
| Distorted Sound | 9/10[6] |
| Sonic Perspectives | 9/10[7] |
Wrath and Ruin is the seventh studio album by the American thrash metal band Warbringer, released on March 14, 2025, five years after their previous album Weapons of Tomorrow.
Background and lyrics
Speaking about the album, lead singer John Kevill said that it has different lyrical themes including "class, power, technofeudalism, socioeconomics and modern dystopia." He drew inspiration for the album title Wrath and Ruin, which continues the band's theme of starting with a W-word in most of their albums, from a quote in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Return of the King spoken by Théoden, "Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!" The cover art depicts, according to Kevill, "an ivory tower above the clouds and the lords rain down wrath and ruin upon those below them to keep them destitute and miserable. It sounded quite cruel and cold from a word perspective."[8]
Release and promotion
The album's title and artwork were revealed in January 2025.[9][10] The announcement came with the release of the single "A Better World".[11] The band will tour in promotion of the album, co-headlining a North American tour with Allegaeon in March and April 2025,[12][13] with bands Skeletal Remains and Summoning the Lich as opening acts.[14][15] The band will also support Kreator in Europe on the latter's Demonic Summer tour in July 2025, alongside Rotting Christ.[16][17]
Track listing
All lyrics by John Kevill.
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Sword and the Cross" | Adam Carroll, Carlos Cruz | 6:07 |
| 2. | "A Better World" | Adam Carroll, Carlos Cruz | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Neuromancer" | Carlos Cruz | 5:27 |
| 4. | "The Jackhammer" | Carlos Cruz | 3:14 |
| 5. | "Through a Glass, Darkly" | Carlos Cruz | 4:58 |
| 6. | "Strike from the Sky" | Carlos Cruz | 3:44 |
| 7. | "Cage of Air" | Adam Carroll, Carlos Cruz | 6:50 |
| 8. | "The Last of My Kind" | Adam Carroll, Carlos Cruz, Chase Bryant | 6:01 |
| Total length: | 40:06 | ||
Personnel
- Warbringer
- John Kevill – vocals
- Chase Becker – guitars
- Adam Carroll – guitars
- Chase Bryant – bass
- Carlos Cruz – drums, keyboards, additional guitars
- Additional personnel
- Mark Lewis – production, recording, mixing, engineering
- Justin Schturtz – mastering
- Andreas Marschall – artwork
- Alex Solca – photography
References
- ^ Cordova, Daniel (March 14, 2025). "The Weekly Injection: New Releases From WARBRINGER, COHEED & CAMBRIA + More Out This Week 3/7". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Weaver, James (January 9, 2025). "Warbringer announce new album 'Wrath And Ruin'". Distorted Sound.
- ^ Weaver, James (January 21, 2025). "Warbringer release new song 'The Sword And The Cross'". Distorted Sound.
- ^ Weaver, James (March 14, 2025). "Warbringer release new music video for 'Through A Glass, Darkly'". Distorted Sound.
- ^ David E. Gehlke. "Reviews - Wrath And Ruin - BLABBERMOUTH.NET". Blabbermouth. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Dan McHugh (March 11, 2025). "ALBUM REVIEW: Wrath And Ruin – Warbringer". distortedsoundmag.com. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Jonathan Smith (March 13, 2025). "WARBRINGER – Wrath And Ruin (Album Review)". sonicperspectives.com. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Dan McHugh (March 29, 2025). "Warbringer: Knowledge Is Pain". distortedsoundmag.com. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Greg Kennelty (January 7, 2025). "WARBRINGER Announces First Album In Five Years, Streams Unrelenting Single "A Better World"". Metal Injection. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "Reviews - Wrath And Ruin - BLABBERMOUTH.NET". Blabbermouth. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "WARBRINGER Announces "Wrath And Ruin" Album, Share Breakneck New Single "A Better World"". sonicperspectives.com. January 7, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "WARBRINGER Announces March/April 2025 North American Tour With ALLEGAEON". Blabbermouth.net. January 15, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ Greg Kennelty (January 15, 2025). "WARBRINGER & ALLEGAEON Announces North American Tour With SKELETAL REMAINS & SUMMONING THE LICH". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ James Weaver (January 19, 2025). "Warbringer and Allegaeon announce co-headline North American tour". distortedsoundmag.com. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "WARBRINGER Announces "The Vortex Of Violence" 2025 North American Tour With ALLEGAEON". sonicperspectives.com. January 7, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "KREATOR Announces Spring/Summer 2025 European Tour". Blabbermouth.net. February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ Greg Kennelty (February 3, 2025). "KREATOR Announces Special European Shows With WARBRINGER & ROTTING CHRIST". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 6, 2025.