Artist: Wrathprayer
Country: Chile
Label: Nuclear War Now! Productions
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2024
If we’re not counting the split LP with fellow Chileans Force Of Evil from 2017 (also Nuclear War Now! Productions) ‘Enkoimeterion’ is Wrathprayer’s first sign of life since the sledgehammer blow that was their debut album ‘The Sun Of Moloch: The Sublimation Of Sulphur’s Essence Which Spawned Death And Life’ was released back in 2012. Although many of us, including me, must have thought the band was about to fade into oblivion, they secretly seemed to have been working on this follow-up album. And while the debut album left its listeners quite divided, amongst the connoisseurs of Bestial Black/Death Metal it is commonly regarded as a minor classic, so ‘Enkoimeterion’ has quite some shoes to fill…
The first thing that might have caught your attention is that compared to the debut album, this sophomore recording is adorned with quite a shorter title. But fortunately, that is basically the only thing that has drastically changed. ‘Enkoimeterion’ is an album that can proudly wear the Wrathprayer colours. A colourful happening, however, is not to be expected. Instead, the only really noteworthy change on the musical level is that the band opted for an overall darker and more oppressing sound.
Where the debut album was chaotic in a sharp edged fashion, ‘Enkoimeterion’ is a sinister and brooding affair that makes them fit perfectly in the twilight zone between Blasphemy and, say, Dead Congregation. In fact, the overall suffocating and evil spirit of the music reminds me of the recently released Shaarimoth album. Like the Norwegians of Shaarimoth, Wrathprayer too are true old Morbid Angel worshippers as is evident in many of the album’s song structures and eerie leads. Listen to a song like ‘Harpagisometha’ and try to think otherwise. It is not a surprise that the well-versed Chileans are leaning more towards that Morbid Angel/Dead Congregation (or Immolation for that matter) side than that of Blasphemy. Still the lovers of the wild and chaotic spirit of the debut album will find enough on this album to embrace, especially in the drum department there is still a lot of wild staccato Archgoat-like savagery to enjoy.
People who were never able to appreciate and value ‘The Sun Of Moloch: …’ but do like their fair share of dark and sweltering Death Metal in the right Immolation/Dead Congregation tradition might consider giving Wrathprayer a second chance. On the other hand, if you really liked the debut album I can hardly imagine you not digging this newest offering as it is unmistakable step up from the more primitive and basic sounding musical origins of the band.
