Chicago’s Wretched Blessing defies simple classification when it comes to the music they concoct. While the versatile duo—comprised of Rae Amitay of Immortal Bird and Kayhan Vaziri of Yautja—competently melds sinuous string work and bludgeoning riffs with pummeling percussion, smashing out aggressive rhythms inspired by death metal, hardcore, and punk, they do not stay confined within that space. Instead, they navigate each of their songs unconstrained, with more of a fluid playing style that explores dynamic riff techniques, shifting tempos, and distorted audio samples—all designed to replicate the sound of unraveling sanity.
Formed in late 2023, Wretched Blessing released their debut, self-titled EP back in April of 2024, showcasing their solid songwriting capabilities and chemistry. However, they’ve completely leveled up and intensified their efforts on their upcoming EP, Psychic Barriers to Entry, which releases digitally on Thursday, April 24, via the band’s DIY label, Two Mongrels Recordings. Today, New Noise are excited to share “Decalcified,” the first taste of the band’s new music; a slab of pure heaviness.
“Decalcified” erupts with a high-voltage d-beat groove that shapeshifts into a doom-infused beatdown, working up to its utterly pulverizing ending. The track—which may have been “loosely inspired by worm activity in RFK Jr’s brain and Ministry’s ‘TV II’,” according to drummer/vocalist Amitay—perfectly sets the stage for what listeners can expect to hear throughout the new EP.
It’s certainly an evolution of the band’s previous work, chaotic and expansive, yet cohesive. Lyrically, Wretched Blessing touches on the collective brainrot of society, the worsening geopolitical climate “at home” and abroad, and wanting to escape it all. Psychic Barriers to Entry is noticeably heavier and more in your face than the band’s debut EP, party due to the robust and explosive production quality, but also because of the hard-hitting intention behind each instrumental cue.
Wretched Blessing are: Kayhan Vaziri (guitars, vocals) and Rae Amitay (drums, vocals) who both perform all the music and write all of the lyrics. Psychic Barriers to Entry was recorded in February 2025 in Chicago by Pete Grossmann, with Artwork commissioned from LA-based artist, Adam Yates.
Psychic Barriers to Entry Tracklist:
1. Cerebral Scour
2. Delusional
3. Dilute It All
4. brainrot
5. Decalcified
6. I was happy…
7. The Big Rip
Listen to “Decalcified” by Wretched Blessing here:
Psychic Barriers to Entry releases on April 24; pre-order digital copy or CD here.
Photo courtesy of Wretched Blessing
