THE WRAITH – to release “Gloom Ballet” on November 29, 2019 #thewraith

Los Angeles-based dark punk band THE WRAITH will release their Mat Mitchell-produced debut full-length, Gloom Ballet, through Southern Lord Recordings on November 29th, the label this week unveiling the album’s track listing, cover art, and new details on the album.

 

THE WRAITH’s Gloom Ballet delivers twelve infectious tracks drenched in the band’s ‘80s UK post-punk (Death Cult, Killing Joke, Chameleons) and SoCal deathrock (T.S.O.L., Samhain) influences. Recorded by Pucifer guitarist/producer Mat Mitchell, Gloom Ballet was mastered at Audiosiege by Brad Boatright (From Ashes Rise, Tragedy, Alaric) and the artwork was handled by Rebecca Sauve.

Gloom Ballet was captured on vintage equipment including an original and very rare Fairlight CMI workstation originally owned by Michael Jackson, a mixing board formerly belonging to Devo, a 1980s Roland Jazz Chorus guitar combo (made famous by The Cure, The Cult, The Police, and more), and an original Roland Juno-60 – the synth that virtually defined ‘80s New Wave – owned by Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha. The band was also loaned one of U2’s former touring bass guitars for the sessions.

 

Gloom Ballet will see release through Southern Lord on November 29th.

 

Gloom Ballet Track Listing:

1. Ballad Of Aeon
2. Wing Of Night
3. Prevail
4. Toil
5. Of The Earth
6. Pyro
7. Piano Interlude
8. Devil’s Serenade
9. I Expire
10. Gift Of Suffering
11. Barbed Wire
12. Cannot Die

THE WRAITH was founded by imposing frontman Davey Bales, formerly of Virginia peace-punks Lost Tribe, and Kaz Alvis shortly after they separately washed up in Los Angeles. Their irresistibly distinctive sound – skeletal basslines and tribal beats propelling Alvis’ textured swathes beneath Bales’ poetic, anguished bark – immediately gained a following, with homemade demo Comatic Romance racking-up thousands of YouTube views.

 

Convulsive, chaotic West Coast shows honed the songs that became THE WRAITH’s lauded 2017 EP, Shadow Flag. A couple of videos and line-up changes later – the band is now completed by Belgian drummer Jef Pauly and Brit bassist Paul Rogers – their evocative songwriting and pure-punk authenticity earned the ear of Mat Mitchell, who has worked with Love And Rockets, The Flaming Lips, Meat Puppets, King Crimson, and more. Mitchell recorded the band’s debut LP, Gloom Ballet, and earlier this year, the band signed to Southern Lord Recordings for the worldwide release of the album.

 

THE WRAITH:

Kaz Alvis – guitar/vocals

Davey Bales – vocals

Jef Pauly – drums

Paul Rogers – bass/vocals

 

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