It’s been over a decade since Cannibal tore through the metal underground, and the silence that followed left fans wondering if Wretched had become yet another casualty of time. But absence, as it turns out, can be its own kind of incubation. For the last two years, Charlotte, North Carolina’s lauded metal monsters Wretched have been meticulously crafting their long-awaited fifth full-length album, Decay, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking.
Set for release on October 17th via Metal Blade Records, Decay stands as a conceptual and emotional triumph, a record that blends the haunting melodicism and technical precision that defined Wretched’s past with newfound narrative depth and personal vulnerability. Acting as a prequel to 2010’s Beyond The Gate, the album dives headfirst into existential despair, D&D-inspired mythology, and reflections on mortality and loss.
It’s clear that Decay is a story-driven experience, a meticulously composed piece of art that rewards patience and attention. Decay is a labyrinth of sound and feeling. The band refused to sand down their humanity in pursuit of mechanical perfection. There’s no hiding behind polish here, only a raw display of musicianship and authenticity.
The album’s longer compositions, “The Mortal Line” and “Beyond The Glass,” span nearly twenty minutes combined, yet never overstay their welcome. They serve as cinematic interludes that build atmosphere, their intricate layering showcasing the band’s compositional prowess. When “Lights” erupts, driven by Powers’ savage yet soulful vocals, it’s a reminder that Wretched’s brand of technical death metal is as emotionally resonant as it is musically demanding.
Produced by the band themselves, engineered by Marshall Wieczorek, mixed by Johann Meyer, and mastered by Alan Douches, Decay bears a sonic weight that feels both massive and organic. Wretched have done more than just return; they’ve transcended their past. Decay is not the sound of a band trying to reclaim former glory; it’s the sound of artists unafraid to confront the erosion of time, the inevitability of loss, and the beauty that can still be found within ruin.
