Southern Lord Recordings Europe

Los Angeles-based dark punk band THE WRAITH shares “Wing Of Night,” the first single from their incoming debut album, Gloom Ballet, set to be released worldwide through Southern Lord later this month.  

Influenced by the likes of Killing Joke and 1919, THE WRAITH‘s post-apocalyptic “Wing Of Night” juxtaposes a relentless verse groove – the ominous march of a spiritual death squad – with faint hope flickering amidst its expansive chorus. 

“‘Wing Of Night’ is about not just surviving the pain and struggle of living in a dark world, but also welcoming these,” says THE WRAITH vocalist/lyricist Davey Bales. He continues, “Embracing hell and rejecting heaven as your reality, but in a positive way.” 

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 Puscifer guitarist/producer Mat Mitchell, Gloom Ballet was mastered at Audiosiege by Brad Boatright (From Ashes Rise, Tragedy, Alaric) and the artwork by Rebecca Sauve. 

Stream THE WRAITH’s “Wing Of Night” at Bandcamp RIGHT HERE.
Gloom Ballet will be released worldwide via Southern Lord on November 29th. Find preorders at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.

THE WRAITH was founded by imposing frontman Davey Bales, formerly of Virginia peace-punks Lost Tribe, and Kaz Alvis shortly after they both (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 Romanceracking-up thousands of YouTube views. Convulsive, chaotic West Coast US shows honed the songs that became THE WRAITH‘s lauded 2017 EP, Shadow Flag. A couple of videos and lineup changes later – the band is now completed by former Blink-182 drummer Scott Raynor 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.

For review copies of Gloom Ballet and all interviews and coverage of THE WRAITH in North America contact dave@earsplitcompound.com and internationally contact lauren@rarelyunable.com.  

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