After more than a decade shaping the UK’s underground heavy scene, London’s WREN return with their third album, ‘Black Rain Falls’—a cathartic, experimental post-metal masterclass released earlier this year via Church Road Records (Svalbard…). Over seven meticulously crafted tracks, the band fuses searing sludge riffs, doom-laden drums, and anguished vocals into a sound that is both punishing and profoundly emotive.
Balancing weight and space, slow-building tension and explosive release, the album twists in unexpected directions while remaining cohesive—a feat all the more remarkable for a band with just one guitarist. Tracks like « Toil in the Undergrowth », « Betrayal of the Self », and « Metric of Grief » showcase an adventurous harmonic palette, from jazz-tinged dissonance to feedback-drenched grooves, taking listeners through despair, anger, and catharsis.
Drawing inspiration and/or comparisons from bands like Amenra, Isis, Neurosis, Kowloon Walled City, Young Widows, Kollapse, Hundred Year Old Man, Death Engine, and Lesser Glow, WREN forge a sound unmistakably their own. From the leviathan build of Flowers of Earth to the jagged energy of Scorched Hinds, the album navigates crushing riffs, atmospheric tension, and hypnotic minimalism.
At 36 minutes, ‘Black Rain Falls’ is lean, devastating, and immersive—every note, beat, and riff deliberately placed for maximum impact. Produced by Scott Evans (Great Falls, SUMAC…), it’s an unforgiving yet mesmerizing journey—a cathartic, fearsome, and enthralling statement from a band at the height of their powers.
Don’t miss out—stream ‘Black Rain Falls’ below and experience WREN’s cathartic journey for yourself.
