Photo by Cristian Danner
Watch WRAITH’s “Final Warning” video HERE.
Indiana-based blackened thrash/speed metal practitioners WRAITH will unleash their fiery Descent Into Darkness full-length on November 13th through Prosthetic Records.
With WRAITH, what you see is what you get. Favoring focus and fire over frills and flash, the Indiana quartet – Matt Sokol (vocals, guitar), Jason Schultz (guitar), Chris Petkus (bass), and Mike Szymendera (drums) – summons the speed of old-school thrash through a prism of 21st century extreme metal accelerated at a breakneck pace. The Midwest-bred outfit allows the riffs, solos, furious beats, and haunting lyrics to speak on their behalf, conjuring imagery with the high-octane action of a big-screen historical epic.
After amassing millions of streams, playing to packed houses, and earning critical acclaim from No Clean Singing, MetalSucks, and more, the band delivers their uncompromising and undeniable sixth full-length LP, Descent Into Darkness.
“It’s relentless,” smiles Sokol. “It’s fast, but it’s simultaneously crushing and heavy. We always say, ‘We’re a no-gimmicks thrash metal band’. We try to make the live show as intense as listening to the record in your car really loudly. When we play, it’s lean and mean. We definitely let the music do the talking.”
During 2026, the musicians recorded Descent Into Darkness with co-producer CJ Rayson. More than ever, Sokol leaned into inspiration from his day job as an educator, rooting much of the album in World War I. The process provided an opportunity to fully step inside of the subject matter he teaches on a daily basis.
“I majored in history, and now I’m a tenth-grade history teacher,” he notes. “I find a lot of inspiration from certain eras, so Descent Into Darkness is heavily themed around WWI. Most of the songs pull from some battle or phase of conflict. Even the artwork depicts a WWI battlefield with a reaper in the clouds. We’re telling stories from various perspectives. I’m interested in what these events were like for the people you don’t necessarily read about: the folks working in the mills or the soldiers who didn’t want to be there. I try my best to envision the experience within the music.”
Lead single “Final Warning” storms out of the gate on a barrage of pummeling drums and sniper rifle-precise riffing. Sokol’s growls weigh heavily on the assault, culminating in a portentous chant, “No final warning. Planet in mourning.” A bludgeoning breakdown tosses and turns until the last solo screeches and squeals.
“It’s a story about ignoring warnings,” he reveals. “No matter what side of the political spectrum you sit on, very scary things are happening in the modern world. We’re acting as if it doesn’t really matter though. At the start of WWI, there were signs politically that everything was soured and mistakes were being made. Unfortunately, it led to one of the largest military conflicts ever. It’s a cliché, but history repeats itself. Don’t ignore the warning. If you do, it could be too late.”
Watch WRAITH’s “Final Warning” video HERE. Stream the track HERE.
Descent Into Darkness will be released on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find physical preorders at HERE and digital preorders HERE.
Descent Into Darkness Track Listing:
- Descent Into Darkness
- Final Warning
- Atomic Queen
- Terminal Embrace
- Over The Top
- Misery And Malice
- Lord Of Wolves
- Chainscraper
- No Man’s Land
- Back In The Trenches
WRAITH:
Matt Sokol – vocals, rhythm guitar, leads
Mike Szymendera – drums, backing vocals
Chris Petkus – bass, backing vocals
Jason Schultz – rhythm guitar, leads, backing vocals
“Final Warning” single cover art
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