Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Local and Underground: Wraith (Searcy, Arkansas)



In my first local spotlight I bring to you the bludgeoning sounds of Wraith!  If you didn't know, I'll tell you.  There is a unique and very much alive metal scene in the unsuspecting state of Arkansas and these guys craft their Hell music in a small town called Searcy.  The guys in wraith keep one foot in the old school and one foot in the new.  They have a developed sound for a band so young and I hope to hear more coming from these guys in the future.  Now on with the music...

Their first single Immortal Transgression was released on Facebook and YouTube and will be featured on their upcoming debut album.  This song starts off with a few seconds of ominous synth before it kicks you in your face!  It slides into Behemoth territory with single note chord picking and brute and demonic vocals.  The drums are pummeling; switching from loose to tight stylings in appropriate form.  The guitar work and layering is fantastic with a tight crunching tone that doesn't ignore the bass end.  Speaking of bass, it doesn't stand out too much on this track but it's there matching the guitars note for note which is sometimes not an easy feat.  Wraith mix up the vocal style on this one as well with both guttural death and scratchy throated black metal styles.  Lyrically Wraith offer up epic and bombastic apocalypse prophesies sure to suit the tastes of death heads and black metal ponderers alike.  Wraith are off on a good footing with this track.

 
 
This next track was re-mastered by Bart Williams of The Black Dahlia Murder and starts in again with the ominous intro.  Quickly this track moves into blackened thrash territory and moves at lightening speed.  There is a stronger mix of vocals on here with dueling black and death styles.  The guitars are at a frantic pace with fantastic tri-tone breakdowns.  The drums are tighter on this one with heavy use of quality and sickeningly fast double bass.  There is a clean guitar breakdown that works perfectly to create some dynamic and now I can hear the bassist show off his talents with a lengthy run.  The soloing is spot on!  My biggest pet peeves with solos is when they overstay their welcome and go on for ever with incessant noodling.  And when solos are musically just off with out any regard to the key or notes that are being played by the other musicians, that is just a travesty.  The solos here are anything but that and they are quality with out the quantity.   Wraith really show off their song writing skills with this song and every band member shines.  Horns to the sky!



Wraith have another song to blast your eardrums with but you will have to visit their Facebook page to listen for yourself.  https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWraith

I highly recommend this up and coming band.  Like them on Facebook.  View and like their YouTube videos.  And I think they just might have T-shirts you can inquire about while you wait for their debut album to be released.

 
Find me on Facebook for all kinds of kick ass updates!  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-Hand-Path/407216532684590
 

Remember to find me on Etsy for a huge selection of vintage horror VHS and LHP goodies at https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeftHandPath?ref=si_shop.
 
And remember, no matter what you do...Stay on the Left Hand Path!
 

/,,/ Rawhead Rowan /,,/



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