Eleven years is a hell of a long time. Anything can happen in that time frame, and I think it’s safe to say that any band that goes that long without any new material has its own future up in the air, filled with uncertainty. Yet, life can be tricky like that. It doesn’t always work out in the ways that we hope nor do plans take shape as smoothly or as quickly as we’d like, but those that persevere are able to deliver material on a level that feels more than satisfying and earned in its grandeur. Sometimes, the best things in life are not rushed.

In the eleven years since their last record, the fate of Wretched has been a hotly debated subject that almost became as talked about as a new Necrophagist record or Opeth returning to their old school sound. Now, we need not wonder anymore what this band can still be even after such a long silence.

Having made their claim as one of the most intense bands in the ever-shifting realm of technical death metal, it’s no wonder why Wretched disappearance was taken as a great loss after their 2014 album, “Cannibal”. Their fiery display of power and prowess was something that made heads turned as it seemed to be the case that Wretched was only growing in strength as time went on. Their absence left an undeniable hole in the scene, yet the word of their return relit a fire in this corner of the underground that was simply fascinating to witness grow in earnest as it spread from one listener to another. But the question remained: will the new material feel worth an eleven-year wait? From beginning to end, Wretched made sure such a wait was beyond worth it with everything they delivered throughout the whole of “Decay”.

Magnificent barely begins to describe what transpires in this 65-minute performance. Taking every possible shred of their past and taking it to the next level in every sense while simultaneously exploring new territory to show just how far Wretched has come along with how daring and bold it can still be in such a way that feels invigorating and downright addicting. “Decay” doesn’t miss so much as a beat in its massive scope! Scathing in its hostility but singularly vast in its expansive repertoire of intensity and grandeur that always feel pitch-perfect in every given moment. Even when Wretched dares to pull back into a kaleidoscopic atmosphere driven by little more than raw ambiance, “Decay” offers escapism through calculated motions that know when to lay off on the masterful brand of technical death metal that seems to know no bounds while the ingenuity and creative drive of Wretched itself pushes the record to become something more. Already, Wretched was known as a force not to be underestimated. Now, here with everything delivered throughout “Decay”, we’re faced with something that’s a beast dwelling in a category all its own.

Tagging this creation as technical death metal only scratches the surface of what’s been pulled off throughout this simply masterful creation, and my words can barely do justice for all that Wretched has accomplished in these twelve tracks. Eleven years is a long time for anybody. Yet, I find myself thinking that such a wait was more than worth it here. A true album of the year contender and an effort that’s actually worth of being called “highly anticipated”, it’s every given minute of “Decay” that sets the bar astronomically high and surpasses most if not all of the competition.

Wretched is back, and it’s oh so sweet to be eviscerated by their awesome might once again.

“Decay” releases on October 17th via Metal Blade Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Decay” on Bandcamp here.

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