botswanan death metal pioneers wrust’s latest ‘intellectual metamorphosis’ is part death metal, part thrash, but mostly just brutal. #soundcheck

Straight out of Botswana comes some of the most ferocious death metal you’ll hear in 2013. Wrust formed back in 2000 when there were only a small handful of metal bands on the entire continent. Now playing the part of living legend (with singer/guitarist Stux Daemon as the sole remaining original member), Wrust just released their latest full length record Intellectual Metamorphosis.

The record combines elements of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with death metal and thrash for a sound that’s brutal as fuck, but, you know, in a classic kind of way. “Destiny of Fate” is almost reminiscent of old school Metallica (remember when their songs weren’t all new-agey therapy-speak and sub bar band blues? Good times…) While the rest of the record evokes bands like Cannibal Corpse, the thrash influence is always lurking behind Stux’s guitar work. “The Date of the Sacrifice” opens with chanted vocals before launching into Stux’s death growl, ending on a surprisingly melodic and haunting solo. “Kingdom of Death” meanwhile boasts a guitar line straight out of the NWBHM playbook. The combination of classic metal subgenres breathes new life into a sound that’s been pretty stagnant since the late 90’s.

A team from Greece is currently working on a documentary about Wrust, and has an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds. Check it out, because theirs is a story that deserves to be told.

– Words by Nathan Leigh

+ Get a free download of single ‘Spiral Of Torture’ here.