ALBUM REVIEW: Weapons of Tomorrow – Warbringer

Though WARBRINGER‘s hiatus was only a few years, 2017’s Woe to the Vanquished is still one of the most magnificent come back records of all time. WARBRINGER failed to capitalise on their ever-increasing success with 2013’s IV: Empires Collapse, the band dissolving as relentless touring took its toll leaving founder member John Kevill as the last man standing. However, after the hiatus, Kevill came back with long-time partners Adam Caroll and Carlos Cruz for their strongest record to date. Three years on from Woe to the Vanquished, they’re back again with Weapons of Tomorrow – but can they prove that they are worthy of their place in thrash’s upper echelons? 

After just shy of a minute of tension building, break-neck riffing, Kevill brings Weapons of Tomorrow over the top and into the fray with a bellicose scream of “Firepower kills!” If that firepower is coming from WARBRINGER‘s arsenal, it certainly does. Firepower Kills is an eviscerating opening barrage, thrashing with a level of speed and intensity often attempted, but rarely mastered. This is modern thrash at its very best. The Black Hand Reaches out keeps the momentum going, with a more traditional metal stomp before Kevill unleashes borderline death metal vocals. A bit slower, more groove-focused than Firepower Kills, The Black Hand Reaches Out is no less intense, while Crushed Beneath the Tracks brings a touch more of WARBRINGER‘s black and death metal influences into play, to brilliant effect – particularly in the dazzling solo work.

The first wildcard of Weapons of Tomorrow, Defiance of Fate is an incredible change of pace. Juxtaposing haunting, melancholic melodies with Kevill‘s blackened rasps, Defiance of Fate immediately offers a very different dynamic, moving away from the blitzkrieg musical assault in favour of a more atmospheric, darker, brooding approach. The lead work from Carrol and Chase Becker is outstanding, and the triumphant return to a thrashier sound, embedded with IRON MAIDEN-esque harmonies, in the later sections of the track prove to be stunning, leading into the thunderous artillery strike of Unraveled, which reaches speeds almost comical.

Heart of Darkness sees a return to the atmospheric side of WABRINGER, blistering black metal riffing taking centre stage as a haunted feeling descends over the track. Blending melodious progressive thrash with a colder, blackened barrage, Heart of Darkness is a real stand out and showcases the sonic range of the band. The following one-two of Power Unsurpassed and Outer Reaches are more straightforward, but no less aggressive. Power Unsurpassed is a masterclass of thrash, while Outer Reaches is unrelenting, again bringing blackened elements into play and across the track Kevill‘s vocals are tattooed to the beat. Penultimate track Notre Dame (King of Fools) once more sees WARBRINGER delve into black and death metal territories, aggression and atmosphere working together to deliver brilliance.

One of the moments that made Woe to the Vanquished so special was it’s closing track, When the Guns Fell Silent. An 11 minute, 11 second exploration of the horrors of the First World War incorporating traditional war poetry, it was ambitious, narratively excellent, and easily the most incredible song WARBRINGER had released to date. They end Weapons of Tomorrow in a similar fashion with Glorious End. Told from the perspective of a soldier in the trenches of the First World War, the closing track tears through ferocious riff work, grandiose atmosphere and near perfect execution, as Kevill delivers the painful truth about the First World War – there was no glory, no heroism. Only death. When the Guns Fell Silent and Glorious End both showcase WARBRINGER‘s newfound talent for delivering epic narrative in an emotionally punishing, musically destructive way. A glorious end to Weapons of Tomorrow, indeed.

There is no stopping WARBRINGER. Their new-found sense of identity has proven itself to be a power unsurpassed; blending black and death metal with their classic thrash roots to outstanding effect, the L.A. thrashers are once again demonstrating exactly why they are one of the most interesting bands in the genre. Lyrically stunning and musically eviscerating, Weapons of Tomorrow is the strongest thrash album of the year, by some distance.

Rating: 9/10

Weapons of Tomorrow is set for release April 24th via Napalm Records. 

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