Quantcast
Connect with us

Music

Album Review: Wrath & Rapture ‘Wrath & Rapture’

Published

16 years ago

on

Winston Salem, NC based Wrath & Rapture released their debut self-titled album earlier this year and it’s a difficult album to review, to say the least. On the one hand, these guys know their instruments up and down and their performances are impeccable. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the feel yet to offer a jaw-dropping experience. It’s a bit hard to explain, but here we go.

wrathandrapture

The album starts off with ‘The Black Gate Opens’, which showcases grand synths and driving guitar chugging that is reminiscent of older Dream Theater (a la Awake), all while changing tempos effortlessly. This opener shows that the production on the album is truly wonderful as each instrument, while not necessarily being in-your-face, is present in the grand scheme of things. The opener bleeds perfectly into the next track, ‘The Dirge of Fallen Warriors’, which starts off with some hauntingly beautiful synth melodies overlaid with extreme guitar tones. The vocals come in with thick growls and piercing shrieks while the song shifts from solid footing to progressive runs and heavy chording that keep you on your ‘listening’ toes. 
Like I just wrote, the production is wonderful making it a very easy album to listen to. There are no frequencies that pierce the ear and no muddiness in the low end. The other joy in listening to this album is when the band changes tones completely, such as in ‘Disembodiment’, the tones don’t sound false. When they start playing progressive fusion jazz, they are using actual jazz tones instead of trying to make metal tones fit their sound. As great as these tones are, the changes leave something to be desired. It feels like most of the time, these changes are there just to be there. There is no real emotion or sense in these changes. In a way, it almost feels like Wrath & Rapture are trying to show off, which judging by their skill, they don’t need to do: I’m already impressed. 
Wrath & Rapture include a cover of ‘Cold’ by At The Gates as the closer to their album. It’s an interesting cover as Wrath & Rapture definitely make it their own. There are interesting guitar harmonizations and the addition of the keys add a symphonic flavor to the piece. Being a huge fan of the original, however, I feel that Wrath & Rapture lost some of the ‘sledgehammer-to-the-face’ feeling that the original had. 
Overall, Wrath & Rapture have put out a debut that lands them solidly on my ‘bands to watch’ list. Technically, they have a 5 out of 5 album. However, the lack of feel and the confusing, almost misguided style changes would rank as a 2 out of 5 album. Together, I’ll split the difference and hope that with their sophomore release, Wrath & Rapture find a way to make everything work together.
3.5 out of 5 skulls 
If you want to keep up-to-date on upcoming Bloody-Disgusting.com reviews, interviews and other news that I post, follow me on Twitter: SimplyJonnyBD

Related Topics:

Managing editor/music guy/social media fella of Bloody-Disgusting

Click to comment

Movies

‘The Lost Boys’ Musical Extends Broadway Run With North American Tour Set for Spring 2028

Published

1 week ago

on

May 28, 2026

By

The Lost Boys: A New Musical officially kicked off on Broadway last month, and Deadline now reports that the show’s Broadway run has been extended into next year.

The show was originally set to run through November, but Deadline reports that The Lost Boys: A New Musical “has released a block of tickets through Sunday, March 7, 2027.”

The news comes in the wake of The Lost Boys: A New Musical becoming the most Tony-nominated musical of the season with twelve nominations including Best Musical.

Additionally, “The Lost Boys will launch a North American National Tour in Spring 2028, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Additional cities and tour dates will be announced later.”

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is of course an adaptation of the 1987 horror classic from director Joel Schumacher, with the cast including Ali Louis Bourzgui as lead vampire David (originally played by Kiefer Sutherland), Maria Wirries as Star (originally played by Jami Gertz), and LJ Benet as the soon-to-be-turned Michael (originally played by Jason Patric).

The horror musical’s cast also includes Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson, Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson, Paul Alexander Nolan as Max, Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog, Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog, Brian Flores as Marko, Sean Grandillo as Dwayne, and Dean Maupin as Paul.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is Directed by Michael Arden, featuring Music and Lyrics by The Rescues, Book by David Hornsby & Chris Hoch, Story by James Jeremias & Janice Fischer, and Produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait & Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

When a mother and her two teenage sons move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging.

As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared.

Joel Schumacher directed the original The Lost Boys vampire movie in 1987, wherein two brothers move to a new town and discover that the area is a haven for vampires.

Continue Reading