Wretched unveil new album 'Decay' with title track release

Wretched Announces New Concept Album 'Decay' for October Release

North Carolina-based death metal band Wretched is set to release their fifth studio album, Decay, on October 17th. The 12-track record, which will be available through Metal Blade Records, marks a significant return for the group after their 2014 album Cannibal. This latest project was self-produced by the band and serves as a sequel to their 2010 album Beyond The Gate. To celebrate the announcement, Wretched shared a music video for the title track, directed by David Brodsky, which fans can view online.

Vocalist Billy Powers described Decay as "100% a concept album," emphasizing its connection to the previous work. He explained that the story begins with the talisman introduced in Beyond The Gate, and the new album expands on that narrative. "The first track I wrote was 'The Golden Tide.' I had no idea where I was going to take the story until I typed the first line of the song. 'They began in the dark.' After that, the lyrics poured out of my mind and by the end of it I realized that this story takes place many years before the content of Beyond The Gate."

One of the standout tracks, "Decay," explores the journey of the main character, Malus, who loses his physical body after being possessed by an ancient Necromancer. Now a conscious thought floating through time and space, Malus seeks help from a familial djinn named Elturiel to return to his mortal form. The song delves into themes of out-of-body experiences, lucid dreaming, internal dialogue, and the possibility of reincarnation. Powers also mentioned the recurring line "once more upon this eternal flat circle," inspired by the True Detective season one quote "time is a flat circle." He clarified that while the story suggests cycles of events, it doesn't mean all hope is lost.

Fans can pre-order the album now and look forward to a series of live performances. Wretched will start their mini-trek with Aether Realm in August, followed by a fall tour supporting Six Feet Under across the United States. The tour dates include stops in major cities, with tickets currently available for purchase.

Upcoming Tour Dates

Wretched will perform alongside Aether Realm and Paladin at the following venues:

• 8/07/2025 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA
• 8/08/2025 – Eulogy – Asheville, NC
• 8/09/2025 – Chapel Of Bones – Raleigh, NC

With Aether Realm alone, the band will play:

• 8/10/2025 – The State Theatre – Greenville, NC

Supporting Six Feet Under, Exhorder, and Incite, Wretched will appear at:

• 9/21/2025 – The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH
• 9/22/2025 – Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
• 9/23/2025 – Chapel Of Bones – Raleigh, NC
• 9/25/2025 – Conduit – Orlando, FL
• 9/26/2025 – Orpheum – Tampa, FL
• 9/27/2025 – Club LA – Destin, FL
• 9/28/2025 – Chelsea’s Live – Baton Rouge, LA
• 9/29/2025 – Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX
• 9/30/2025 – Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
• 10/02/2025 – The Rock – Tucson, AZ
• 10/03/2025 – House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
• 10/04/2025 – Humdinger – San Luis Obispo, CA
• 10/07/2025 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
• 10/09/2025 – Ray’s Golden Lion – Richland, WA
• 10/10/2025 – Nova PDX – Portland, OR
• 10/11/2025 – The Shredder – Boise, ID
• 10/13/2025 – The Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO
• 10/15/2025 – The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK
• 10/16/2025 – Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA
• 10/17/2025 – The Canopy Club – Urbana, IL
• 10/18/2025 – Avondale – Chicago, IL
• 10/19/2025 – Venue Event Center – Cadillac, MI
• 10/20/2025 – Sanctuary – Detroit, MI
• 10/21/2025 – Rec Room – Buffalo, NY
• 10/22/2025 – District Music Hall – Norwalk, CT
• 10/23/2025 – Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY
• 10/24/2025 – Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA
• 10/25/2025 – Preserving Underground – New Kensington, PA

Tracklisting for Decay

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