Signal Rex is proud to present WAMPYRIC RITES' highly anticipated second album, "The Wolves Howl to the Moon," on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. WAMPYRIC RITES hail from the ever-rising Ecuadorian Black Metal underground, and have had a major hand in shaping its prominence and notoriety across countless short-length releases since 2019. The new album here contains five songs.

"The Ancient Tyrant Returns from the Deep Forgotten Crypts" is the first. It's Black Metal...the production is overly trebly and the wall of guitars, vocal shrieks, and ever-present drumming will tell you that. Although, some subtle melody is also present within the guitar structures. "Rites Under the Fullmoon" has a similar sound, although there is some variation in how the vocals are delivered. At times, shrieks, and at other times, they are guttural and deep. The music borders on Dungeon Synth. It takes a very brief pause at the half-way mark, then the assault continues. "Amidst the Fog of Eternity" is a short, three-minute offering. Rain falls softly in the background, while lead guitars build a solemn melody.

The title track is a long ten-minutes. It begins with bell strikes, a hawking crow, and clean guitars. Wolves howl, and then without much of a transition, the chaotic sound returns. At the half-way mark, the sound drops to more howls and then it's back to the pandemonium. The band could work on their transitions. "Captive in a Desolate Castle" closes the album. There is an odd, Folky melody within the thick structure of the guitars, as well as some phasing issues with the drums. The sounds drops at the half-way mark, with more rain, but it's back to 100 miles an hour after.

Modern Black Metal can go one of two ways. The first, is a copy of the sounds made infamous over twenty years ago, known as the First Wave of Black Metal. The second, is an escape from the narrow boundaries of the past, and taking a more experimental approach. The later of the two has created some of the most unique music that I have heard. Unfortunately, this is an example of the first.