heavy-metal-darkness: Wildhunt | Aletheia

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Wildhunt | Aletheia | Jawbreaker Records

Release Date: 2 January 2026

Format: CD/LP/Digital

Genre: Heavy/Thrash Metal

Country: Austria

Wildhunt formed in Austria in the early 2010s, building their name through energetic live shows and a sound shaped by classic thrash and dramatic heavy metal influences. Their debut album "Descending" introduced them as a band that preferred long, involved compositions, twisting riffs and vocals that walk a line between raw aggression and theatrical storytelling. After a long silence filled with lineup shifts and personal detours, the group returns with their second album "Aletheia", released by Jawbreaker Records. The new work aims to show a band older, tougher and focused, ready to pick up the thread after a full decade away.

"Aletheia" arrives as a confident continuation of what Wildhunt started years ago. The sound keeps the energy of traditional thrash, mixed with heavy metal melodies that twist and coil without drifting into chaos. The vocals sit high in the mix, sharp and expressive, guiding the listener through themes that lean into introspection and unease. The guitar work brings quick shifts in rhythm and plenty of turns, always pushing forward with momentum. The overall tone is darker this time, more focused on pressure and tension, like a storm that refuses to settle.

The album’s longer tracks give the band space for extended riff sequences and sudden changes, something Wildhunt clearly enjoys working with. Nothing is stitched together at random, every section is prepared to step into the next with intention. The mood ranges from cold aggression to eerie calm, and the band uses these swings to keep the journey unpredictable. The rhythm section supports the guitars with steady power, always keeping the engine burning behind the scenes. The title track "Aletheia" and the closing "Sole Voyage" show how far the band has pushed their songwriting since the debut.

"Aletheia" is not a flashy release, it is a patient one. Wildhunt focus on atmosphere, long form structure and a touch of philosophical darkness. The album demands attention and rewards listeners who stay locked in. It brings Wildhunt back into the world with a mature, driven sound that stands well next to the early influences referenced in their press material. For fans of Metallica’s classic era, Heathen’s technical leanings, Megadeth’s speed or King Diamond’s dramatic edge, this album fits comfortably into familiar territory while still carrying Wildhunt’s own identity.

Score: 7.5