Wailing dropped an underground metal gem earlier this year. The collaboration of two New Jersey metal scene veterans, Cullen Toner (Dawnbreaker) and Shawn Eldridge (Ruinous), brings to life the more destructive passages from the book of Isaiah, a book better known for its optimistic Christmasy prophecies. This feels like a one-off project that was cleaned up for public consumption, but sits distinctly, yet adjacent, to Cullen’s solo project Dawnbreaker.
Typically I’d talk about the band’s history, but falling from the sky isn’t history. Both Cullen and Shawn have been active in the NJ metal scene and collaborators before Cullen’s conversion to Christianity. According to the liner notes, this album was recorded between 2020 and 2022 and mixed and mastered in 2023. I don’t know what would have caused the delay, but the album got wrapped up for Vision of God Records to release this death metal morsel at the dawn of 2026.
The best way to describe this release would be if the prophet Isaiah had access to recording gear and a taste for death metal. The atmosphere is like you are in a dungeon, unfortunate residence for many who spoke for God to the kings of Israel and Judah. The prophecies for this album foretell of destruction to stir up the governing class to turn back to God. Isn’t death metal the best way to deliver news of destruction? This is Wailing. It is organic, like the dank green fungus on the dungeon walls or the damp bare earth floor used as a bed. It feels raw and impassioned with periods of chaos where Shawn’s drumming drives the anguish in the prophetic verses of destruction.
Their style is in a death metal style with a slight blackened edge to it. Whereas Dawnbreaker has more black metal influences, Wailing is squarely a death metal outfit. Vocals are deep deathy roars with a pace and gait in the guitars that is chaotic and pummeling, yet the riffs yield enjoyable hooks with dissonant lead guitars sprinkled liberally. The songs allow for a death metal narrative approach as it barrels through scripture with the drums and guitars playing off each other. I wish there was a little more variety in the vocals, however having a recent appreciation for great live drumming, I enjoy Shawn’s ability to shake things up from the the drum seat as Cullen throws riff after riff. The playing resembles a jam session as musical episodes flare up and subside, but with clear purpose and structure. The reverb-drenched production helps create the dungeon aura as well as cover slight timing differences in the jam.
The album runs slightly short at a hair under the half-hour mark, which keeps away metal fatigue due to the intensity and narrower style coverage. Three one minute tracks also help to break up the flow. The title track opens with a Black Sabbath doomy riff that delays the inevitable death metal onslaught. The next four songs are meaty affairs with faster tempos, blastbeats galore and thrashy riffs. My favorite of this stretch is “Celestial Hosts Will Rot” with its old school thrash riffing. “You Who Immolate” is a fun one-minute burst before landing into a crushing chugging “Cast Without Burial.” “Abhorrence To All Flesh” starts out in a promising manner as if it were meant to build into another longer song, but it short circuits with a repeating falling guitar lick into a fade out, ending the album.
Overall, I really enjoyed the tour of Isaiah’s dungeon. It hits hard with an organic death metal style that is satisfyingly wholesome. I may not have noticed these scripture passages before (and to be honest, I struggle reading many of the prophets except Daniel), but I will now take notice. If there is anyone left that can’t see how one can be a faithful Christian and play metal, this album will do beautifully as a counter argument. It also is a great soundtrack for when the world won’t listen; you can spend time with anguished Isaiah in his dungeon. It may not rise to the upper echelons of my personal playlist, but I know that this is someone’s favorite record just waiting to be found.
Rating: 8/10
Written by Sean Bailey
Tracklist:
1 – Until The Desolation
2 – A Curse Devours The Earth
3 – Shades That Cannot Rise
4 – Celestial Hosts Will Rot
5 – Darkness and Woe
6 – You Who Immolate
7 – Cast Without Burial
8 – Crushed By Eons Of Iniquity
9 – Abhorrence To All Flesh
Wailing is:
Cullen Toner – guitars, bass, and vocals
Shawn Eldridge – drums
Release Date: January 2, 2026
Record Label: Vision Of God Records
Social Media: Spotify | Bandcamp
Video for A Curse Devours The Earth