Playback stays with you while you browse Headbang Today.
About
Wraith
Wraith tear through blackened speed metal with razor-sharp thrash riffs, frantic drumming and Matt Sokol's harsh, snarling vocals. The Indiana band draws from old-school speed metal, punk and early extreme metal, keeping its songs fast, direct and driven by heavy rhythmic attacks. D-beat passages, aggressive guitar solos and a rough-edged rock and roll attitude give their music its character. Beneath the noise, Wraith explore war, religion, violence and humanity's capacity for destruction, delivering their stories without sacrificing speed or impact.
Band history
History
Wraith formed in Crown Point, Indiana, in 2016 as a project started by guitarist and vocalist Matt Sokol. Drummer Mike Szymendera joined during the earliest stages, helping establish the band's combination of blackened speed metal, thrash and punk aggression.
The group's self-titled debut recording appeared on April 20, 2017. Bassist Chris Petkus joined during the same year, while guitarist Jason Schultz began performing and recording with Wraith in 2018 before becoming a full-time member in 2020.
Wraith released Heed The Warning in 2018, followed by Absolute Power in 2019. Both recordings developed the band's fast, abrasive approach to heavy metal, drawing from classic thrash, speed metal and punk. The group also released shorter recordings, including Index Case: The Quarantine Sessions... in 2020.
Undo The Chains arrived on September 24, 2021 through Redefining Darkness Records. The twelve-track album further established Wraith's mixture of aggressive guitar riffs, blackened vocals and punk-driven rhythms. The band also appeared on collaborative split releases, including Speed Armageddon with Bastardizer and Faster Than The Fucking Devil alongside other underground metal acts.
In May 2024, Wraith announced their signing to Prosthetic Records and introduced Fueled By Fear. Released on June 28, 2024, the album was self-produced in Griffith, Indiana, with CJ Rayson handling engineering, mixing and mastering. Its songs continued the band's interest in political tension, dystopian imagery and the uneasy relationship between historical events and modern society.
The band remained active through touring and new recordings. In May 2026, Wraith issued another self-titled release before beginning the campaign for Descent Into Darkness. The singles Final Warning and Over the Top introduced the forthcoming album's historical themes, particularly the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the First World War.
On November 13, 2026, Wraith released Descent Into Darkness through Prosthetic Records. Recorded with producer CJ Rayson, the ten-track album develops the band's blackened speed and thrash metal sound while drawing heavily on World War I. The recording features Matt Sokol on vocals and guitar, Jason Schultz on guitar, Chris Petkus on bass and Mike Szymendera on drums.
Descent Into Darkness is a ten-track album from Indiana blackened speed and thrash metal band Wraith, released on November 13, 2026 through Prosthetic Records. Running for approximately 35 minutes, the record drives old-school thrash metal through punk aggression, relentless drumming and an increasingly dark historical perspective.
The album draws heavily on World War I. Vocalist and guitarist Matt Sokol, who works as a history teacher, developed much of the material around the experiences of ordinary people caught in conflict. Rather than concentrating exclusively on major battles and military leaders, the songs examine the lives of soldiers and civilians facing fear, uncertainty and destruction.
Opening track Descent Into Darkness establishes the record's aggressive direction through fast guitar work and forceful rhythms. Final Warning examines the consequences of ignoring signs of approaching catastrophe, connecting the political circumstances before World War I with concerns about the modern world. Its arrangement moves through rapid riffs, heavy percussion and an aggressive vocal delivery before a breakdown and guitar solo.
Over the Top examines the experience of leaving a military trench and entering battle. Its lyrics follow a soldier confronting violence, fear and the psychological consequences of combat. The song was introduced as an advance single in October 2026 and received an official visualizer.
Atomic Queen, Terminal Embrace, Misery and Malice, Lord of Wolves and Chainscraper continue the record's blackened thrash attack. No Man's Land and closing track Back in the Trenches reinforce the album's wartime imagery, with the latter forming the longest composition on the record.
The music features Matt Sokol's harsh vocals, distorted rhythm guitars, aggressive solos and the band's characteristic combination of speed metal and punk-influenced rhythms. The bass and drums remain prominent throughout the arrangements, supporting the rapid transitions and heavier passages.
Descent Into Darkness was produced by Wraith and CJ Rayson, with Rayson handling recording, mixing and mastering. The album artwork is credited to Andrei Bouzikov.
The release is available digitally, on CD and on vinyl through Prosthetic Records. Official editions include green vinyl with black and white splatter and light blue vinyl with black splatter.
