In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage death metal, on October 23rd, Memento Mori is proud to present Martyrdoom’s highly anticipated second album, As Torment Prevails.
Conceived in Warsaw back in 2010, Poland’s Martyrdoom went through some lineup changes until they established a solid formation in 2014, consisting of Sociak (vocals), Marol (guitar), Młynar (guitar / vocals), Artur (bass), and Wasyl (drums). With this lineup, in 2017 did they release their debut album, Grievous Psychosis, through Memento Mori. Blending complex, blastbeat-driven, darkened death metal with slow doom passages, the band drew their main influences from the likes of Obituary, Immolation, Rippikoulu, Autopsy, Demilich, Triptykon, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, Hooded Menace, Grave, Disma, and Dead Congregation, but they spewed all those influences out with renewed vigor. As far as non-musical inspirations go, their lyrics mostly revolved around old-school horror/gore movies, personal struggles, and the works of H.P. Lovecraft.
Bloodthirsty and dripping with menace, Martyrdoom are armed with a thorough knowledge of ancient death metal – still! – and they return to create something vile and unearthly with second album As Torment Prevails. Though six years might’ve passed between full-lengths, these Poles pick up exactly where they left off: eschewing all trends, trudging defiantly, and blasting their noxious blend of death metal and doom. If anything, As Torment Prevails dives deeper into the ancient past, sounding like a lost relic from 1992, including the striking cover art courtesy of Ryszard Wojtyński. And while doom no doubt forms a foundation for their sound, never do Martyrdoom sound sluggish here; their guitar sound alone is GUTTED, and the doom is definitely all in the feeling, for there’s plenty of off-the-charts energy here no matter what the tempo is. Those especially enamored with the ’90s works of Asphyx and Benediction will find tons to love here As Torment Prevails, as well as the early (and equally essential) records of Sinister and Hypocrisy. Concluding with a cover of Autopsy’s “In the Grip of Winter,” Martyrdoom don’t so much as turn back the clock as CRUSH it!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Katatonic Ascension of Cirrhosis” here:
. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Martyrdoom’s As Torment Prevails 1. Voidcreeper 2. 93 3. Katatonic Ascension of Cirrhosis 4. Purtenance 5. Shedding of the Soul 6. Torment 7. Festering Existence 8. Garden of Flesh 9. In the Grip of Winter [Autopsy cover]
In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage death metal, on October 23rd, Memento Mori is proud to present the long-awaited second album of The Netherlands’ Ecocide, Metamorphosis.
Ecocide was formed in Haarlem by Sten Govers, Bas Gijzen, and Rick Stikkelorum back in 2012, with Dennis Bikker joining in 2014. Their self-titled 2012 demo was basically thrash metal with a pinch of death metal thrown in for good measure and lyrical themes based on H.P. Lovecraft, ’80s horror, and sci-fi movies. Their 2013 debut album, Eye of Wicked Sight, saw the band shift their initial thrash metal sound into old-school death metal, taking the Floridian brand of Death, Obituary, and Massacre, adding some Swedish inspiration in the vein of Entombed, Grave, and Unleashed, pouring some Bolt Thrower heaviness, some Pestilence greatness, and throwing in an additional touch of thrash metal àla Slayer for a real homage to the golden days of yore, when death metal was memorable and riff-oriented to the hilt. The release of the album quickly attracted a bigger, international following, and the band started playing dozens of shows within and around the Netherlands. During these shows, they shared the stage with bands like Malevolent Creation, Sinister, Gorguts, and the legendary Bolt Thrower. After two lineup changes ,the band called it quits in 2015, returning briefly in 2017 to release a single titled “The Godhand,” and then again in 2020 to release another single, titled “Sleeper.” After releasing those two songs, the band remained dormant until 2023, when they announced their comeback and started working for the second album.
Now, at long last is that comeback already ready, fittingly titled Metamorphosis. Indeed, it’s been a full decade since their debut album, but Ecocide prove that LP#2 could’ve followed swiftly after the first: the band stick to their guns, and totally solidify their transformation into old-school death metal par excellence. While thrash riffs still abound, they’re fully integrated into the whole, supporting an unbelievably era-authentic Tampa style that could’ve come out in 1991. Ecocide‘s songwriting has also gotten stronger, shifting speeds with deftness and care, and placing a premium on earth-shuddering breakdowns. There’s always a linear flow to all that they do here on Metamorphosis, even when the riffing gets busier and the rhythms kick into overdrive; for the latter, the kick drums in particular impart that timeless “tornado” effect that made many a Morrisound recording so classic. Similarly, the production across the album is clear, crunchy, and classy, displaying technical finesse whilst keeping just the right amount of grit. And what to say of vocalist/guitarist Govers…well, an exceptionally CLASSIC death metal throat, powerful in his enunciation and creeping you the fuck out!
Completed by Costin Chioreanu’s horrifically abstract cover art, Ecocide make a grand return with Metamorphosis. Let’s hope it’s not another decade for LP#3!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “On the Shores of Madness” with a lyric video here:
Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ecocide (The Netherlands)’s Metamorphosis 1. Prologue 2. Metamorphosis 3. Terminus 4. Corrupted Reality 5. On the Shores of Madness 6. Vortex Singularity 7. Transcendence of the Mind 8. The Flayed 9. Amongst the Tombs
Today, Pacific Northwest death metallers Excarnated Entity premiere the new track “Corridor of Flame” at heavily trafficked web-portal NoCleanSinging.com. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Mass Grave Horizon, set for international release on September 8th via Nuclear Winter Records. Hear Excarnated Entity’s “Corridor of Flame” in its entirety here:
Excarnated Entity was stillborn under lifeless skies in the year 2018. Originally hailing from Seattle, the quartet features current and former members of Anhedonist and Triumvir Foul. From the beginning, Excarnated Entity‘s aim has been to deliver desolate-yet-powerful death metal doom. They self-released their Stillborn in Ash demo in May 2019, which quickly caught the attention of various labels. It immediately got reissued on tape by Extremely Rotten Productions, followed by vinyl and CD reissues on Nuclear Winter with new artwork/design and remixed audio.
In mid-2020, Excarnated Entity relocated to Portland, Oregon and underwent a handful of lineup changes before reaching their current formation. With the new lineup in place, work on their debut album was finally completed. Mass Grave Horizon paints a hopeless vision of the future, drearily dredging death metal’s darkest depths and locating majestically miserable doom among those ominously bubbling landscapes. Following a two-minute instrumental introduction, Excarnated Entity kick in with a classic downtuned death metal surge before gutting its underbelly, revealing the morose melodicism of earliest My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost. As the eight-song/44-minute album plays on, its attendant song titles vividly illustrate said vision – “Carcinogen Shroud,” “Corridor of Flame,” and “The Butcher’s Pulpit” among them – and one can further detect shades of Trouble, Cathedral, Solitude Aeturnus, and even Lycia lurking within those ruins. It’s a massively dense-yet-spacious sound, and the quartet’s songwriting suitably incorporates slow twists of the knife, but always in a deliberate and linear fashion. And, come climactic closer “Gallery of Defeat,” your fate is sealed and your soul spent…and Excarnated Entity stand stoic, unmoved and unmovable.
Also hear the previously revealed “Irradiated Shadows” HERE at Nuclear Winter‘s Bandcamp. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Excarnated Entity’s Mass Grave Horizon 1. Abjection 2. Carcinogen Shroud 3. Irradiated Shadows 4. Corridor of Flame 5. Paralytic Reverie 6. Mass Grave Horizon 7. The Butcher’s Pulpit 8. Gallery of Defeat
Today, Swedish deathrashers Atonement stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Sadistic Invaders. Set for international release on July 28th via Dying Victims Productions, hear Atonement‘s Sadistic Invaders in its entirety here:
One of the most literally explosive young bands in the nowadays metal underground, Atonement are a trio of Swedes whose average age was 16 years old when they released their debut demo, Merciless Blasphemy, in 2021. Despite such youth, Atonement proved that they are steeped in the ancient essence of thrashing death metal circa 1987. Bubbling forth from their cauldron of nastiness were the likes of early Destruction, Sepultura, Possessed, Death, Sweden’s Morbid, Germany’s Poison, and Chile’s Pentagram, and thus was Merciless Blasphemy aptly titled, for each of the demo’s five songs whipped forth a filth & fury quite unlike anything else around.
With expectations understandably high, Atonement took their time crafting the penultimate debut album, and two years later it arrives in the form of Sadistic Invaders. Yet another aptly titled recording, Sadistic Invaders carries forward that filth & fury of its short-length predecessor and amazingly ups the nastiness to hellish levels. Again, even with the band not yet in their 20s, Atonement are dead-ringers for juiced-up and jackhammering deathrash of a most mid-‘80s vintage, and the ten songs they devilishly dole out across the 37-minute album are somehow more crazed and compact than on said demo. And whereas that demo’s ultra-rawness emitted an air of the otherworldly, here on Sadistic Invaders do the trio impart a thicker and fuller-bodied aspect, retaining a respectable rawness but not at the expense of their superlative chops; while it’s always full speed ahead for Atonement, they manage to twist the ceremonial knife in different and sometimes-impossible ways, elevating the album above the masses still searching for Endless Pain. Dizzying yet addicting, Sadistic Invaders hits with the power and precision of a nuclear strike.
And yet, it’s still early days for Atonement, so who knows how far they’ll venture into the lungs of Hell? Sadistic Invaders provides the first full-length clues, and is highly recommended for maniacs of Deathhammer, Division Speed, and Norway’s late/great Condor.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Atonement (Sweden)’s Sadistic Invaders 1. Hellish Delight 2. Await The Command 3. Fatal Militia 4. Axe Of Death 5. Evil Disaster 6. Lust For Sin 7. Unholy Sorcery 8. Death Merchant 9. Evil Minds 10. Sadistic Invader MORE INFO: www.facebook.com/atonementband
Today, pan-international death metallers Eternal Rot stream the entirety of their highly anticipated third album, Moribound. Set for international release on July 24th – Memento Mori will handle the CD version while Godz Ov War Productions will handle the vinyl, cassette tape, and digital formats – hear Eternal Rot‘s Moribound in its entirety here:
Eternal Rot crawled out of a musty dungeon in London in 2012, born out of a passion for death metal by Mayer and Grindak. Their 2013 Promo Tape demo (released as Grave Grooves on 7″ EP through Fallen Temple Productions a year after), featured two swampy and deadly tracks that attracted vigilant zombies who began to spread the word about a new sonic disease. A few years of disgusting excavations later, they joined forces with Godz Ov War Productions and spewed out the debut album Cadaverine, which was adorned with the artwork of Mark Riddick, who would ultimately become the band’s artist of choice from then on. Shortly after, the duo were joined by Radek Pierściński (Meat Spreader, Neuropathia, The Dead Goats) on drums, and the result was the band’s second album, Putridarium, which featured an improved formula of their already trademark purulent and über-crushing death metal. The band’s latest chapter of filth up to date was the 2021 split with death/doom metal powerhouse Coffins, on Behind the Mountain Records.
Now, at long last, Eternal Rot will release their third album, Moribound. Aptly titled in a perverse way and again graced with another unforgettable Mark Riddick cover, Moribound proves that the power-trio’s death metal is as undead as ever – “rottenly fresh,” as it were, or perhaps “freshly rotten”! No compromise made and no quarter given, Eternal Rot stick to their grimy guns and unleash another slab of organ-crushing, mind-blowing, and sickening DEATH METAL. That it’s stripped to the fucking bone is one thing (and indeed it is); that it’s insanely CATCHY is another! Someone once said that it takes a truly smart man to know when to be dumb, and Eternal Rot just might be the smartest men around with the ignorant, knuckle-dragging stomp of Moribound. There’s just no resisting these anthems-in-the-making, especially as the gut-wrenching crunch devours you whole and then sucks the very marrow from both bone and soul. Of course, a horror-drenched atmosphere still pervades all that Eternal Rot do, but the modus operandi here is undeniably the absolute CRUSH of the listener – in the catchiest way possible!
Maniacs for Autopsy, Undergang, Hooded Menace, Rippikoulu, Anatomia, Disma, Coffins, Grave, Incantation, and Funebrarum, prepare to permanently add Eternal Rot to that list with Moribound!
Aforementioned cover art and trackisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Eternal Rot’s Moribound 1. Summoned from Moribund Delusions 2. Reflected in Perpetual Waves of Despair 3. Swollen Corpse Adoration 4. Desecrated Guts 5. Gestures Never Recalled 6. Lurker in the Morgue
Today, Swedish deathrashers Atonement reveal the new track “Death Merchant.” The track is the third to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Sadistic Invaders, set for international release on July 28th via Dying Victims Productions. Hear Atonement‘s “Death Merchants” in its entirety here:
One of the most literally explosive young bands in the nowadays metal underground, Atonement are a trio of Swedes whose average age was 16 years old when they released their debut demo, Merciless Blasphemy, in 2021. Despite such youth, Atonement proved that they are steeped in the ancient essence of thrashing death metal circa 1987. Bubbling forth from their cauldron of nastiness were the likes of early Destruction, Sepultura, Possessed, Death, Sweden’s Morbid, Germany’s Poison, and Chile’s Pentagram, and thus was Merciless Blasphemy aptly titled, for each of the demo’s five songs whipped forth a filth & fury quite unlike anything else around.
With expectations understandably high, Atonement took their time crafting the penultimate debut album, and two years later it arrives in the form of Sadistic Invaders. Yet another aptly titled recording, Sadistic Invaders carries forward that filth & fury of its short-length predecessor and amazingly ups the nastiness to hellish levels. Again, even with the band not yet in their 20s, Atonement are dead-ringers for juiced-up and jackhammering deathrash of a most mid-‘80s vintage, and the ten songs they devilishly dole out across the 37-minute album are somehow more crazed and compact than on said demo. And whereas that demo’s ultra-rawness emitted an air of the otherworldly, here on Sadistic Invaders do the trio impart a thicker and fuller-bodied aspect, retaining a respectable rawness but not at the expense of their superlative chops; while it’s always full speed ahead for Atonement, they manage to twist the ceremonial knife in different and sometimes-impossible ways, elevating the album above the masses still searching for Endless Pain. Dizzying yet addicting, Sadistic Invaders hits with the power and precision of a nuclear strike.
And yet, it’s still early days for Atonement, so who knows how far they’ll venture into the lungs of Hell? Sadistic Invaders provides the first full-length clues, and is highly recommended for maniacs of Deathhammer, Division Speed, and Norway’s late/great Condor.
Hear the previously revealed “Await the Command” exclusively HERE, courtesy of MetalBite.com, as well as the previously revealed “Hellish Delight” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Atonement (Sweden)’s Sadistic Invaders 1. Hellish Delight 2. Await The Command 3. Fatal Militia 4. Axe Of Death 5. Evil Disaster 6. Lust For Sin 7. Unholy Sorcery 8. Death Merchant 9. Evil Minds 10. Sadistic Invader
On July 14th, Blood Harvest Records will release Pukewraith‘s highly anticipated debut album, Banquet of Scum, on vinyl LP format. And today, they stream the reissue in its entirety. Hear Pukewraith‘s Banquet of Scum vinyl reissue in its entirety here:
Sporting one of the best monikers around, Pukewraith is a solo-project of Brendan Dean, erstwhile vocalist/guitarist of Blood Harvest titans Gutvoid as well as a handful of other bands that currently includes Fumes, Soul Devourment, Wexler’s Prime, Alucard, and Simulcra. Obviously, the man is super-busy as well as -talented, and while those talents run the metallic gamut (with an obvious affection for death metal), Pukewraith is naturally his most traditionally gore-soaked work. The last couple years have seen an EP, split, and single, and finally the band’s first full-length, Banquet of Scum.
Released late last year on CD, Pukewraith‘s Banquet of Scum is now finally finding a fitting vinyl release courtesy of Blood Harvest. While there’s undoubtedly some links shared with his stellar work in Gutvoid – namely, the all-consuming sense of devourment, be it physical or spiritual – here does Dean hit with a straightforward pulse ‘n’ crush not unlike early Grave, Hypocrisy, and Sinister, all tempered with well-timed downtempo breakdowns and a bevy of mind-melted solos. And while Gutvoid‘s muse lately has been trending toward the cosmos, Pukewraith fittingly stick to the sewers, plumbing the depths of gore and depravity with relish and, daresay, fun; not for nothing is the album titled Banquet of Scum. Cruise with the Gravesmasher and begin feasting again – or for the first time – with Blood Harvest‘s new vinyl edition, which includes an exclusive bonus track!
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Pukewraith’s Banquet of Scum 1. Grime Fiend 2. 110 Crushed 3. Fleshmaster 4. Mire Stench 5. Cyclone Of Maggots 6. Cruisin With The Gravesmasher 7. Mucklord 8. Sunbound 2097
Today, Danish black/death cult Ascendency stream the entirety of their highly anticipated new mini-album, A Manifest of Imperious Destiny. Set for international release on July 14th via Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records on 12″ vinyl and CD formats, respectively, hear Ascendency‘s A Manifest of Imperious Destiny in its entirety here:
Prepare for the ultimate black/death metal assault by Denmark’s Ascendency… Following a punishing demo in 2019 and their equally merciless 2020 MLP, they now return with another tome of destruction. Four new tracks span an unforgiving half-hour of desecration.
While Denmark has offered some of the best contemporary death metal in the last decade or so, Ascendency are quite a unique beast within this. Their much darker, venomous black metal influences create disquiet with uncomfortable atmospherics that still retain that brutality, just with a much-more-unhinged twist. These new pieces showcase what the band has incubated in the last three years, which is feral and harrowing musical extremity with a sepulchral atmosphere and tremendous musicianship to boot. Reverberating howls and guitars send a chill through the ossuary while drums hammer through remaining skulls with ease.
While Ascendency clearly revel in delivering punishment, they do so with intricate and carefully constructed songs that contain more than enough nuance to really sink your teeth into. Melodic-yet-bestial riffs charge atop devastating percussion with demonic vocals while never straying too far from the cacophony of fury remains the heart of this untamed sound. The subtleties tie in with bludgeoning violence effortlessly and leave us with a truly potent, memorable, and distinguished record. Atmosphere and malice, when they coexist in such a manner, become an unstoppable beast, so prepare for annihilation if you seek out this mystical-yet-malignant gem of underground might. Delve into oblivion with these new offerings of unfaltering triumph and might. [text by Jørgen Sven Kirby, Nattskog webzine]
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ascendency’s A Manifest of Imperious Destiny 1. The Triumph of Draconian Might [7:05] 2. Victory – in all its Ephemeral Glory [5:41] 3. Domitor Invictus [5:50] 4. A Manifest of Imperious Destiny [9:30]
Belgian death metal crushers CARNATION are ready to show us their song ‘Maruta’! The track is a dark take on the Japanese Unit 731, also known as the Manshu Detachment 731. This unit routinely conducted tests on people who were dehumanized and internally referred to as “logs” (or Maruta, in Japanese). The music video can be viewed here:
‘Maruta’ is taken from the band’s newest album “Cursed Mortality”, which will be spread across the globe on the 3rd of November 2023 via Season of Mist.
Frontman Simon Duson comments: “We are back with the second single for our upcoming third album Cursed Mortality. To accentuate the diversity of the album, ‘Maruta’ feels like the perfect single to follow-up ‘Cursed Mortality’. This track is loaded with thrashy hooks, groovy beats, and punishing death metal riffs. Those who desire brutality, look no further. ‘Maruta’ is here to crush your skull!”
CARNATION crushed the stage with their appearance on the mighty Graspop (BE) and delivered a mindblowing performance which can be viewed on the Season of Mist channel HERE
CARNATION previously released their first (and title) track ‘Cursed Mortality’ in the form of an amazing music video.
The album can be pre-saved HERE. Pre-sales for the album will start at a later moment.
The surreal cover art for “Cursed Mortality” was created by the late, great Mariusz Lewandowski, whose dark and surreal vision perfectly captures the feel of this album. Lord of the Logos’ Christophe Szpajdel created a brand new logo and symbol to reflect this new era of CARNATION.
Tracklist: 1.Herald of Demise (04:03) feat. Andy LaRocque) 2.Maruta (04:07) [WATCH HERE] 3.Metropolis (03:24) 4.Replicant (03:49) 5.Dutroux (03:48) 6.Submerged in Deafening Silence (04:26) 7.Cycle of Suffering (04:05) 8.Cursed Mortality (07:30) [WATCH HERE]
CARNATION live: 26-08-2023 Rock am Wehr – Jena (DE) 23-09-2023 STP Metal Weekend – St. Pölten (AU) 03-11-2023 Cultuurcentrum Zwaneberg – Heist-op-den-Berg (BE) 16-12-2023 Death Row – Izegem (BE)
For the last decade, CARNATION has been at the forefront of reviving old school death metal. There’s something to be said about the artfulness of taking something so primitive and walking that fine line between keeping its classic authenticity without sounding tired or dated. CARNATION has always teetered this line, injecting a fresh and contemporary approach without losing the genre’s time-honored traditions. However, the band’s third endeavor sees CARNATION erasing those boundaries entirely and abandoning any and all conventions as they traverse into daring new territory. ‘Cursed Mortality’ pulls the Belgian death dealers deeper into experimental new waters, taking risks as the band steps out of the shadows of its predecessors and comes into its own identity. ‘Cursed Mortality’s’ statement is clear: This is no longer simply a revival; this is CARNATION’s rebirth.
“We still play death metal and we still identify as such” explains frontman Simon Duson. “But we know that this is also our second decade performing it. And while it is very important for us to stay true to the old-school style, we know we had to open things up a bit and reach out to those who might be interested in extreme metal, but aren’t that much into the old aspect of it. It also feels fresher to us because we’ve decided to change our visual approach, with a new logo, a new look on stage and so on. In a way, it really feels like the beginning of a new chapter for CARNATION.”
Album number three is much more than just a new chapter, but rather feels like a sequel to an already storied career, punctuated by press accolades, an impressive history of live performances, and a lauded discography consisting of several EPs, splits, and two critically acclaimed full-length albums.
With the debut of its first EP in 2015, CARNATION quickly garnered the attention of fans, media, and most notably of all, record label Season of Mist, who quickly noticed the band’s potential and picked them up without hesitation. Upon forming this union, the band dropped its first full-length, ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ in 2018. Angry Metal Guy astutely noted that the Belgians’ debut album was “one of the best death metal debuts of the year, and CARNATION have earned their place as one of the most promising new bands in the genre” while Distorted Sound Magazine echoed these remarks, calling ‘Chapel of Abborhance’ “one of most brutalizing, well executed and, above all, fun, death metal releases of 2018” in its 9/10 review of the album.
CARNATION’s momentum only seemed to pick up from there. The band kept busy on the road, performing a variety of tours with their death metal brethren in Deserted Fear, Schirenc Plays, Pungent Stench, and Pestilence, while headlining stages in Japan and Brazil. Upon conquering the live circuit and laying waste to audiences across three different continents, the band unleashed its 2020 opus, ‘Where Death Lies,’ which broke them out from the underground with the kind of seismic force that most bands can only dream of. If the critics liked ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ ‘Where Death Lies’ was the moment they fell in love, enamored by Carnation’s relentless brutality and crushing precision.
While touring had been halted that year, CARNATION never stagnated nor waivered. The band’s tenacity paid off with their sophomore effort being named among one of the best records of the year by The Pit, Chicago Music Guide, Pandemonium Metal, and many more, while the single “Iron Discipline” was singled out by Loudwire as one of the best songs of 2020. Legacy outlet Kerrang! also took notice, ranking the band among the “50 Greatest Death Metal Bands Right Now,” cracking the top 20 picks.
While the Belgian slayers still stay true to their roots, they step outside of their comfort zone with more groove, melody, and progression, showcasing their versatility as musicians and clearly defining their own unique sound. ‘Cursed Mortality’ sounds darker, with passages of melancholic melodies that compliment the heaviness.
Most bands might feel anxious about making such dramatic changes, especially to incorporate clean vocals within such extreme music, CARNATION embraces the unknown and does not fall victim to fear or monotony. “As artists, it’s something natural,” explains Verstrepen about why the band has shifted direction. “Doing the same thing over and over again doesn’t inspire us. We love to create and we love to explore new paths. We knew some people wouldn’t like clean vocals in death metal, but we don’t want to think of that too much. We stand 100% behind our music and we really like what we did here. Some people will drop out, but there will definitely be others joining! As Lemmy would say, ‘You win some, you lose some.’”
Indeed, a personal metamorphosis is always a risk, but one that historically has paid off. The first records of bands like Black Sabbath, Carcass, Death, or even Bathory sound nothing like the mid-late era offerings of those very same artists, and yet, those records that strayed off the beaten path are regarded as some of the most seminal albums in the history of metal. Playing it safe sounds easy, but it isn’t always a part of a legend’s origin story. And CARNATION isn’t here to play by the rules; the band is ready to take a leap of faith and redefine an era.
CARNATION Lineup: Simon Duson: Vocals Jonathan Verstrepen: Lead Guitar Bert Vervoort: Rhythm Guitar Yarne Heylen: Bass Guitar Vincent Verstrepen: Drums Recording studio: Project Zero Studio
Today, Hells Headbangers announces the signing of Sweden’s Mutation. The first fruit of this union shall be the band’s highly anticipated debut album, which will see release through the label early next year.
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden’s Mutation were formed around 2019 as an idea between drummer S.N and guitarist K.L due to their mutual worship of the earlier years of raw death metal. Eventually, guitarist S.Q and bassist S.B joined the band in 2022, and Mutation were finally able to create a demo. Released digitally in mid-May, their Demo ’23 absolutely scorches with utterly feral intensity and authentically ancient atmosphere. “The era between ’85-’88 is our key inspiration, and we intend to keep the flame of old burning,” says S.N.
About Mutation‘s signing with Hells Headbangers for their eventual debut album, S.N continues: “We’re really satisfied about signing to HHR, and we’d like to give a big thanks to Gene Palubicki of Perdition Temple, who introduced us. We’re currently working on our debut album filled with unadulterated raw death metal in its purest form.”
More Mutation news to be revealed shortly, but a 7″ vinyl reissue of Demo ’23 is an immediate possibility. For more info, consult the links below.
