“This is my gift to you, bring end to the torment of this combative life.“
Mapping the history of Wristmeetrazor would see many put record Misery Never Forgets as the finest work from the screamo-meets-metalcore unit. Even as solid as Replica of a Strange Love was, while producing one of their most popular songs in “Last Tango in Paris“, it didn’t see the unit propel themselves to the heights many had expected. Yet a few years later, with adjustments in their line-up and a more focused sound, Wristmeetrazor have crafted something that sees them realise their potential on Degeneration.
As “Turn on, Tune In, Drop Dead” rumbles in, there is a sheer presence to Degeneration that comes through. Much of this could be pin-pointed towards the tight production from Randy LeBouf, as Fonof‘s vocals sound tight alongside each drum snare and cymbal crash, giving a sheer force of sound that carries across the record. Even when Fonof offers up some sparsely used cleans on tracks such as “Xeroxed Reflection” and “Static Reckoning“, it still maintains an encompassing presence.
A sheer rawness and existentialism that captured the culture of the 00s both musically and theatrically seeps through on Degeneration. The harsher moments on “Love Thy Enmity” have an air of Bleeding Through coupled with Nine Inch Nails, with the industrial influences more than present evident across the twelve tracks here. The bleakness of the record’s themes come across in its sound, too, even as “No Ceremony” laments “the worst prosper, the rest just suffer“.
On tracks like “Xeroxed Reflection“, which features Kevin Iavarinom, Wristmeetrazor show clear moments where have they have truly refined their sound, conciously mixing their sonic palette. As the riffs lead through the track, the complimentary vocal performance from both singers enhances the atmosphere of the record rather than breaking it, indicating a carefully chosen feature rather than a scratch-my-back gesture.
What Degeneration displays is a band certain of their sound and aesthetic. This has allowed Wristmeetrazor to start a new chapter that should see them earn some due success. The additions of Userelaine on bass, allowing Fonof to lead on vocals, as well as Nate Billmyer on guitar have seemingly paid off. It’s a record that is confident and sure in its sound, alongside visuals that do much more than compliment it. Degeneration is comfortably Wristmeetrazor‘s best work to date.
8/10
Degeneration is out March 29th through Prosthetic Records and can be pre-ordered here.