Wage War - Landfall (2026)
A powerful and enjoyable modern metalcore album, with some excellent riffs, catchy choruses and interesting electronic elements, even if the songwriting occasionally follows familiar formulas.
Landfall sees Wage War returning to a heavier sound after STIGMA, while retaining the melodic choruses and electronic influences of their recent material. The production is massive, with aggressive guitars, powerful breakdowns and an effective contrast between Briton Bond's screams and Cody Quistad's clean vocals.
“Landfall” is my favourite track. I particularly enjoy its threatening introduction, the heavy guitar riffs and the contrast between the aggressive verses and the melodic chorus. The song has a great sense of energy, with some effective changes in intensity and a powerful arrangement that makes it an excellent opener.
“Sweet Dreams” is another highlight, combining heavy guitars with a particularly catchy chorus. “Silk” brings a more chaotic approach, with interesting rhythmic changes, while “God Complex” stands out thanks to its industrial influences and aggressive electronic textures. “Way Of Pain” is one of the heaviest moments, and “Silhouette” provides a more atmospheric conclusion.
What I appreciate most is the balance between heaviness and melody. The vocal performances are excellent, and the band knows how to make aggressive passages feel powerful without sacrificing accessibility. I also enjoy the electronic elements, particularly when they add some variety to the guitar arrangements. The production is very polished, but generally works well with this style of music.
My main reservation is that some of the songwriting remains rather predictable. Several tracks use similar combinations of aggressive verses, melodic choruses and breakdowns, and the transitions between the heavier and more commercial songs aren't always completely convincing. A few melodies also feel less memorable than the strongest moments.
Still, there's plenty to enjoy here. The album has good energy, several strong songs and enough variety to remain engaging throughout. It's not particularly innovative, but the combination of powerful riffs, melodic hooks and modern production makes it one of the more enjoyable metalcore releases of the moment.
71/100
❤️ Favourite track: “Landfall”
+ Powerful guitar riffs and effective breakdowns
+ Excellent contrast between aggressive and clean vocals
+ Catchy choruses and interesting electronic textures
– Some predictable metalcore structures
– Occasional inconsistency between heavy and melodic tracks
– Not particularly original within the genre
Genre: Metalcore
Country: US
Final Verdict: 71% (Very Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 50th / 745
Highlight: Landfall
Made me think of:
I Prevail
Architects
Beartooth
