“Radiance” is the pummeling new single from Charlotte, North Carolina‘s WRETCHED! The track appears on their long-awaited fifth full-length, Decay. A conceptual masterpiece that blends haunting melodies with progressive complexity, the record will see release on October 17th on Metal Blade Records.

Offers vocalist Billy Powers, “’Radiance‘ is a chapter in our story in which the possessed body and mind of our main character Malus is used by the ancient Necromancer to lure his sibling into his newfound lair within Terra Mortuorum; a ’land of the dead.‘” Within the veins of this mountainous lair in which his sister Fragoré has been conjured, the attack begins and the talisman she holds in place of a heart is extracted and fused with Malus‘ own. To me,” he continues, “this track represents someone feeling weak and doing everything they can, good or bad, to prove to themselves that they ultimately could do whatever act is in question.

Unfortunately, in this portion of the story it pertains to the ’doing something bad‘ aspect and in one‘s mind, after the fact, they face the truth of what they‘ve done and realize what such an action truly took away from them. What it took away from their soul if you will. In the end, the moral of the story is to accept yourself, keep your head, stay focused and do what you know to be right, not what is easy to let yourself do.”

Adds guitarist Steven Funderburk, “’Radiance‘ is a solid head-banging ripper of a song that has heavy groove riffing as well as a very mournful yet epic melody on the back half, which is something we‘re known for doing.”

Watch WRETCHED‘s “Radiance” HERE
https://youtu.be/a9mKL1z6bgo

Watch WRETCHED‘s previously released video for the record‘s title track HERE
https://www.metalblade.com/wretched/

Decay may be WRETCHED‘s most pristine-sounding recording, but it‘s still raw with a live feeling in the performances. It sees the boundary-pushing lineup breaking past defined walls of their four previous releases. Lyrically, Decay delves deep into existential themes, D&D-inspired mythology, and personal loss. The title track contains the album‘s main character, Malus. “In the song, ’decay‘ refers to Malus‘ decaying existence,” notes Powers, “the feeling of loss, and helplessness/lack of control he has to influence anything outside of the darkness in which he has been cast.”

In broader terms, decay refers to many elements of the album‘s story, “The decay of good intention, the loss of loved ones, the influence time and choices have upon our bodies and minds and the decay of the world around us due to the choices of those with ultimate power,‘ notes Wieczorek. “The music contributes to the story and helps paint an image, in the same way music and movies go together.”

Decay was self-produced with engineering by Wieczorek, mixed by Johann Meyer, mastered by Alan Douches, and features artwork and layout by Travis Smith (Overkill, Nevermore, Opeth etc). The record will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:

Blackout (US)
Flesh And Blood (US)
The Void (EU – Ltd. 300)
The Truth (EU – Ltd. 200)

Find preorders at https://eyesoremerch.com/bands/w/wretched

Decay Track Listing:
1. Decay
2. Malus Incarnate
3. The Royal Body
4. The Crimson Sky
5. Radiance
6. Clairvoyance
7. The Mortal Line
8. Behind The Glass
9. Lights
10. The Golden Tide
11. Blackout
12. The Golden Skyway