It’s no secret that technicality in the realms of death metal has been on the rise in recent years. With all sorts of names coming out of the woodwork to deliver creations fresh and interesting, there’s always comes a point for such scenarios that new names can become more interesting than those already established if the right circumstances are met. When Wounds first came around with its debut EP, calling it bombastic is but the tip of the spear for what the act brought forth. Anticipation was pretty high for whatever they would cook for a follow-up, and it’s now that I can say with real joy that we can all breathe a sigh of relief as Wounds has more than lived up to expectations.

Where Wounds surprised many of us with “Light Eater” five years ago, any given moment from this new full-length effort should make it more than obvious that those five years were extremely well spent as this piece shows how far the act has grown in practically every given category. By and large, “Ruin” is a work that should more than satisfy anybody who found themselves enamored by the preceding EP with newcomers surely able to fall right into the swirling madness that Wounds calls home. While still far from what I would call the peak of what technical death metal is capable of, especially in recent times, there’s no way to ignore the power of “Ruin”! A diverse and immensely complex balance of melodies, intensities, grooves, and bursts of extreme violence that never seem to end once they sink their jagged claws into you, Wounds offers no less than evisceration and the most painful of deaths for any who find themselves within the realm of this creation. Wounds knew precisely how to bring every bit of their craft together for a cohesive and engaging listen that offers no reprieve for those who aren’t ready for the madness they’re about to lose themselves in while those who are mentally prepared will find themselves before a massive entity whose true power I don’t think has quite yet been shown to us, but the power that has been on display is not something to underestimate whatsoever. It was five years ago that Wounds made themselves out to be a band that we needed to keep a sharp eye on, and it’s now with “Ruin” that we know see the fruits of such vigilance.

We’ve already seen more than enough quality come through for the first quarter of 2024 even if we’re hardly halfway through it yet, and there’s no way to deny Wounds’ place amongst such excellence. Five years is more than enough time for a band to fall apart and never attain the heights that were promised yet it’s in that time which Wound honed their skills to deadly effect in order to ensure that “Ruin” more than lives up to its name.

“Ruin” releases on March 15th via Everlasting Spew Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Ruin” on Bandcamp here, or via YouTube below.

LIKE Wounds on Facebook here.