WARPSTORMER - WARPSTORMER (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

Here's an established fact: I like WARPSTORMER. Back in 2022, their debut EP Here Comes Hell made quite a mark--as I said back then, said EP "unleashes riffs with the confidence of a seasoned act and the haste of a band excited to parade their entire arsenal in a single 20 minutes span." Needless to say, the promise of a full length was exciting. Their self-titled debut LP came out last November, and, in classic fashion, it's taken me a very long time to actually write about it. Apologies for tardiness, etc. etc.

WARPSTORMER plays a potent blend of stoner doom and thrash, a combination that feels simultaneously vigorous and sludgy. While the doomier stoner elements do frequently take center stage--the thrash is often more apparent in the roaring bombast than shredding speed per se--this album is notably forceful. WARPSTORMER feel like the bastard lovechild of High on Fire, The Sword, five gallons of diesel, and some high-octane guzzoline. And, while big punishing riffs often lead the charge, there are enough progressive and (dare I say?) cosmically inclined psych moments to lend the songwriting an expansive quality. With the exception of some very nice cleans that shine in the back half, the vocal delivery, which is raspy and striking in equal measure, fondly reminds me of the punchiness of Black Royal. While never unhinged, very little here feels overly restrained. WARPSTORMER is a powerful band, and isn't afraid to show it.

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While actively listening, WARPSTORMER is undeniably engaging--the riffs are thunderous, the vocals mighty, and the groove pushes and prods with a pleasing swagger. However, after a great many listens, I do feel that several tracks here lack a certain stickiness after the fact--while highlights like the epic "Beyonder – i. A Cry Towards the Light; ii. Ash & Rust" and the hooky "A Liar's Crown" very successfully carve out sections of brainspace, a couple of the tracks on Side A have a little less staying power. To this end, I do think the album rewards multiple listens, as a familiarity with the songs inevitably helps make individual moments pop.

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​Side B is where WARPSTORMER really seem to hit their stride, with each track showcasing a distinct identity. I'm a particular fan of the choice to pull things back into more overtly doom-oriented territory for closer "The Edge of Time," a track which keenly focuses all of WARPSTORMER's established strengths. They really do seem to excel in the long form--at nearly 11 minutes, the band spends significant time building into a particularly enjoyable midsection. The outro feels even more monolithic as a result of the catharsis that came before, and the album ends on a very satisfying note.
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​So. Did WARPSTORMER pay off on the promise indicated on Here Comes Hell? I'm gonna answer with a hearty "hell yeah!" This debut is notably vigorous and powerful, yet frequently demonstrates that it knows when to pull back to best suit the listening experience. I'm excited to see them continue to develop the elements that make tracks feel distinct in the context of the whole, particularly if it means we get more of these expansive and cosmically-minded epics. As much as I have enjoyed this album over the past, erm, 5 months since release, it feels like more is coming. WARPSTORMER serves as a very solid foundation for WARPSTORMER's inevitable space opera. 

WARPSTORMER - WARPSTORMER was released Nov. 24th, 2024. Find it on Bandcamp here!

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WARPSTORMER can be found on Instagram and Bluesky
Cover art by Luke Oram