Wretch
Wretch
(Bad Omen)
Former Gates Of Slumber guitarist/vocalist Karl Simon has had a rough few years. Back in 2014, his former Gates Of Slumber bandmate Jason McCash passed away. That would put a pall over anybody, but in the months leading up to the release of this new album, another former bandmate J. Clyde Paradis also passed away.
So, death figures prominently in the debut album from his new band. There is a sadness to their debut that is palpable. Where in the past, Simon would write about fantastic creatures and spin epic tales, this new one deals with the grim realities of life and death, in the fine tradition of classic Black Sabbath, where Ozzy used his lyrics to exorcise his very real life demons.
One look at the titles and you can see this fact is very evident. “Running Out Of Days” opens the album on a musically and emotionally crushing note, and is followed by “Rest In Peace”, which continues down the same path as the previous song. “Bloodfinger” is somber instrumental, that throws in some classic heavy metal and psychedelic influences into the mix. Their cover of Judas Priest’s “Winter” is gut wrenching. The album closes with “Drown” where Simon sings of “never getting free” and waves that pull him under, capping the album off in a downbeat fashion.
This is Simon’s way of dealing with his pain, so in the end it provides a catharsis, for him and the listener, especially people who have dealt with death recently. The debut from Wretch is everything you would want in a doom album and more. Don’t miss out on it.
Purchase the self-titled album here.
