Long hair, leather jackets, Flying V Guitars, and a whole lot of attitude are just a few things that make the genre of Thrash Metal so damn cool. So cool in fact, that even artists of today are keeping the music alive. On that note, we introduce Warbringer who are a striking band of modern day Thrash titans and they are all systems go for the release of their new album, Weapons of Tomorrow, slated to arrive on Friday, April 24th, 2020 thanks to Napalm Records.
In a new age of Thrash Metal, Newbury Park, California’s Warbringer came on the scene back in 2004 amid the back end of the Nu Metal movement. A commanding five piece, Warbringer began to catch a buzz while touring five continents with such notable acts like Megadeth, Arch Enemy, and Iced Earth.
A mix of old and new, Warbringer’s super-charged Metallica and Death Angel influenced concoction of old school and modernized Thrash quickly won over Metal fans. So much so, that albums like 2009’s Waking Into Nightmares and 2017’s Woe To The Vanquished hit high spots all over the Billboard Album Charts. With lots of aggression and something to say, Warbringer is exactly one of those bands you want to hear in a dive bar or basement show and are much deserving of the grand stage as well.
On to the new stuff, to record Weapons of Tomorrow, Warbringer members John Kevill (vocals), Adam Carroll (guitar), Carlos Cruz (drums), Chase Becker (guitar), and Chase Bryant (bass) hired Producer Mike Plotnikoff (In Flames, Fear Factory) who also worked on the aforementioned latest album, Woe To The Vanquished. In essence, Weapons of Tomorrow is predominantly fixated on the notion that modern technology is hurting our society instead of making it better. Putting everything into the music, Kevill has stated: “I put a lot of thought and detail into the lyrical content of this album. There’s often a ‘storytelling’ component, in which the song’s lyrics develop or turn along with the music and structure of the song. All in all, Weapons of Tomorrow contains elements of our previous album, Woe to the Vanquished, but takes them further and in new and exciting directions.”
With ruthless aggression,Weapons of Tomorrow begins with the September 2019 single, “Fire Power Kills.” A remastered version of what was originally released, this track about advancing weapons technology begins with a slow build until Kevill screams “Fire Power Kills!” ushering in a fierce display of speed. Taking no prisoners, the chunky riffage of “The Black Hand Reaches Out” leads to some classic Thrash Metal soloing before the crazed insanity of “Crushed Beneath The Tracks.”
A classic slow Thrash disposition in the realm of Megadeth’s “In My Darkest Hour,” “Defiance of Fate” is a dreary ballad with harsh, near Death Metal vocals. Next, “Unraveling” is a raging tune but then the Spanish Guitar opening of “Heart of Darkness” opens up into a complete assault of blistering melody that slows down while staying dire and heavy. Originally released as a single in 2018, “Power Unsurpassed” is a favorite that has finally made it onto a full album. Sucking you in, “Outer Reaches” is a stand out while Warbringer expand their songwriting horizons on “Notre Dame (King Of Fools).” In a “Glorious End,” Warbringer present a woeful head pounding wartime story showing the bands vast capabilities for musical structure.
As their sixth studio album, Warbringer’s Weapons of Tomorrow really packs a sucker punch musically and is as real as it gets lyrically. Whether you have been a fan of Warbringer since their 2009 debut, War Without End, or are just discovering them for the first time, Weapons of Tomorrow is highly recommended for Thrash Metal fans of all ages. For these reasons, Cryptic Rock awards Weapons of Tomorrow 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}