Ward XVI / Psychoberrie’s Final Chapter Begins With Blood Is The New Black

Ward XVI are the kind of band who never fail to provoke a response and now a new chapter opens in the legend of Psychoberrie. The promise of more sweat-inducing fear that makes our hearts beat a little faster and makes us feel alive is back with the release of the new single Blood Is The New Black, taken from the new album ID3NTITY.

With such an exceptional yardstick in 2020’s Metamorphosis, my expectations were towering for Blood Is The New Black. After having a few days to digest it, I feel that I am now sufficiently calm and coherent to share my thoughts.

Initially, it scratched the surface of my hopes, but bit by bit, its fiendish talons ripped away at the flesh to root itself deep in my consciousness and nightmares.

The opening malevolent orchestration is soon joined by ominous drums and baying guitar, setting the scene until it all ignites in a frenetic, raging fireball.

The arrangement and vocal delivery convey the volatile psychopathic brutality of the protagonists as it shifts through weighty riffs and synthesis, hyperactive rhythms, Rico’s edgy staccato rap to serene reggae-inspired interludes. There is a lot crammed into these five minutes.

“ID3NTITY is the stunning conclusion of Psychoberrie’s story,” Ward XVI says, “based on a sordid tale that’s ten blood-soaked years in the telling. Inspired by every experience, the album is BIGGER… BADDER…MADDER than ever before. If you want blood… you’ll get it.”

I cannot wait to hear how Blood Is The New Black integrates into ID3NTITY, the third and final part of the trilogy. July now seems oh so far away. This is rock performance art at its best – so delectably disturbing.

Ward XVI will release their new album ID3NTITY on Friday, 11th July, via Earache digital distribution. Pre-order and pre-save options are available here.

Ward XVI have their ID3NTITY Album launch show with Red Method at Manchester Academy 2 on Friday 25th July. For details and tickets, visit here.

Ward XVI – ID3NTITY – Tracklisting

1. Regeneration
2. Into The Wilderness
3. What’s In The Box?
4. Macabaret
5. Interlude
6. Blood Is The New Black
7. At The Window
8. I Spit On Your Grave
9. Interlude 2
10. Darkest Desire
11. Amoeba Of Madness
12. Interlude 3
13. We Are Legion.