REVIEW: WARD XVI - ID3NTITY

Hailing from North West England, grisly shock rockers WARD XVI have gained a reputation for their horror-inspired theatrics. They take inspiration from greats in the genre such as Ghost and Alice Cooper, wearing those influences on the sleeves of their striped asylum-themed get-ups, weaving horror-filled narratives through their music in much the same way. Their new release, ID3NTITY, is the third chapter in their saga of mayhem, following the crazed serial killer Psychoberrie in her horrific escapades, as she slashes her way through the country with her band of misfits in tow.

The story begins with 'Regeneration', opening with a radio montage of headlines being read, detailing the crimes of our protagonist and informing the public of her imminent release from the asylum into society. Immediately after the voices cease, we're hit by a wall of sound, intense guitars and Psychoberrie's haunting vocals. It's almost a chant that runs through the track, repeated and threatening as she sings "welcome to the last day of your life". A strong introduction to the mayhem that is yet to unfold.

'Into the Wilderness' follows, an account of our protagonist's release as she steps beyond the bars of her prison and into her freedom. Much like the last song, it falls into repetition with its chorus, though the track is loud and punchy enough to carry it – a trend that persists through the following tracks. The circus motif is a continuing theme too, coming through in a fairground melody introduction to 'What's in the Box', and through repeated lyrics about the playing of games in 'Macabaret'. They're both action-packed, fast tempo tracks that really give off a sense of the chaos-fuelled action this motley crew of maniacs bring with them.

Next up is a personal favourite, and first single release, 'Blood is the New Black'. It's one that's received acclaim from publications such as Kerrang! and Metal Hammer, and for good reason. An earworm of a riff runs through the track, while Psychoberrie's dramatic, in-your-face vocals refuse to leave your mind. As the track comes to its penultimate moments, Rico Rameres comes in with a growly rap verse that's very reminiscent of the hard-hitting punches from early Slipknot.

Peppered throughout the album are occasional spoken word interludes that help to further this horror-story narrative. There's an element of threes permeating this release – it's their third album, with three interludes; it's a story in three acts.

As we reach the height of the second act with 'Amoeba of Madness', the tempo is brought down with a look into the inner workings of Psychoberrie's mind. A lament, emotional elements coming into play as she sings about the "sickness in her mind" and her desire for someone to take under her wing.

The third act of ID3NTITY follows after the last interlude, consisting of only one, final song: 'We are Legion', a villainous melody about how this unstoppable maniac crew, when all is said and done, still stands triumphant. It's a dark, threatening track that reinforces that they are out there in the darkness, ready to take down anyone that stands in their way.

WARD XVI are legion, and they are one.

This whole nightmarish saga of madness comes to an end with an unlucky-for-some thirteen tracks. It's a number that marks them as an outlier in recent rock releases, with more and more bands preferring eight to ten tracks. Despite that, ID3NTITY is a tight piece of work. It's a theatrical, shocking sensory experience that fittingly encapsulates their identity as a band, and reaffirms their status as one to be reckoned with. With their enthralling flair for the dramatic, one can only imagine where this band will go next.

Score: 8/10

ID3NTITY was released on July 11th 2025 via Earache Records.

Words: Naomi Colliar Duff

Photos: WARD XVI