Decapitated to Write a New Album in 2020


In a message to Machine Head fans welcoming Vogg Kieltyka to the band, Vogg confirmed that he plans to do double duty in both bands, and Decapitated will work on a new album, in addition to new shows booked for 2020. Vogg joined the band as the new lead guitarist via a social media announcement this past weekend (September 28th). As of now, Machine Head has an extensive world tour booked with only a Hollywood show planned for North America this December. As of now, there is a gap in the MH Touring schedule following that show, until April 2020. A new Machine Head USA tour and standalone single are said to be announced any time now as well. Decapitated’s last album was the acclaimed AntiCult record, released in 2017. 

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Decapitated – Anticult


Look, let’s just talk metalhead to metalhead here shall we? This album is an absolute rager and nothing in printed form can prepare your ears for the assault that will hit them when you press play on the new record from Poland’s Decapitated.  The album is called Anticult (Nuclear Blast), and it is probably the best pure metal album since Lamb Of God’s Sacrament (Epic/Prosthetic) in 2006.Continue reading


News: Decapitated Announce Headline US Dates With Black Breath and Theories


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Polish technical death metallers Decapitated have announced an upcoming headline US tour with Black Breath and Theories as support prior to their run with At The Gates and the Haunted.

Founding guitarist Vogg comments:

“We’re very excited to announce that we will be returning to North America in January and February as a part of the At The Gates tour, along with our first headline dates in over 3 years. As you probably know due to unexpected problems with U.S.C.I.S. we were forced to cancel our tour with Soulfly in October this year. We can’t wait to get back and play for our loyal fans all over North America and we hope to see you there! Nothing will stop us this time!!!”

Vocalist Rasta adds:

“The beginning of 2016 is gonna be awesome. We are coming back to United States and Canada!!!. As we all perfectly know, North America is one of the best place to play hard music. This continent was simply built on a Rock and Roll music, and I feel it every time we play there. Amazing crowds, constant headbanging and of course unforgettable shows. North America are you ready?! We are coming! See you there!”

decapitated black breath theories us tour 2016

Blood Mantra Across North America, 2016
Decapitated, Black Breath, Theories
Jan 27: Marquis Theater – Denver, CO
Jan 28: Lefty’s – Des Moines, IA
Jan 29: Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Jan 30: Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
Feb 01: Mod Club – Toronto, ON
Feb 02: Le Cercle – Quebec City, QC
Feb 03: Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
Feb 04: Marlin Room at Webster Hall – New York, NY
Feb 05: Voltage – Philadelphia, PA
Feb 06: Café 611 – Frederick, MD
Feb 07: Shaka’s – Virginia Beach, VA

at the gates haunted decapitated harms way us tour 2016

At The Gates, Decapitated, The Haunted, Harms Way
Feb 09: Revolution – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Feb 10: State Theater – St. Petersburg, FL (Decapitated only)
Feb 11: Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Feb 13: Gas Monkey – Dallas, TX
Feb 14: Mohawk – Austin, TX
Feb 16: Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Feb 17: Marquee – Phoenix, AZ
Feb 18: House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
Feb 19: House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
Feb 20: Glasshouse – Pomona, CA
Feb 21: Regency – San Francisco, CA
Feb 23: Whisky – Los Angeles, CA (Decapitated only)


Decapitated – Blood Mantra


Blood-Mantra

 

After triumphantly re-emerging from the other side of horror after the truly horrific bus crash of 2007 which claimed the life of drummer Vitek and left front m n Covan in a coma, Polish Death Metallers Decapitated have been on the ascent after 2011’s Carnival is Forever (Nuclear Blast) firmly re-established them as one of the genre’s important bands. Despite a few line-up shuffles, 2014 sees the band utterly at the top of their game with sixth full-length Blood Mantra (Nuclear Blast) the album they have always been threatening to make, and one that should leave the competition choking on (human) dust.

From the second that the searing guitar lines that open first track ‘Exiled in Flesh’ begin until the washed-out, apocalyptic starkness of closing track ‘Red Sun’ fades into the distance, the band seizes you by the throat, shakes every last bit of resistance from your aching body and leaves you utterly spent yet begging for more. The thick, full-bodied production gives each track a monolithic intensity while the subtle yet sinister atmosphere lurking just out of sight in the background gives proceedings an eerie and desolate air not usually found in Death Metal.

But without the songs to back it up, this would be meaningless. Thankfully that is not the case by a long shot.

It’s hard to pick favourites when there are so many choice cuts on offer but the blitzkrieg lunacy of ‘The Blasphemous Psalm to the Dummy God Creation’ should win prizes for sheer intensity as well as most over-the-top song title. The sickeningly catchy riff and merciless percussion of ‘Veins’ is so ludicrously tight and neck-snappingly awesome that it should come with a government health warning, while the chugging brutality of the title track is the kind of song Slipknot would write if they knew anything about heavy music. The accessibility of these songs will no doubt gain Decapitated a whole new legion of mainstream fans, something wholly deserved for not an ounce of integrity or brutality has been sacrificed in the process. They’re just that damn good.

Elsewhere the dead-eyed, clinical technicality of ‘Nest’ flirts with industrial themes before unleashing a gloriously epic solo while the sprawling, progressive riffs of ‘Blindness’ carry us off into the distance to pastures unexplored yet soon to be conquered. All of this would not be possible without the vision and skill of guitarist and band leader Vogg whose talents increase with every record and is firm proof that Death Metal can be innovative and enthralling whilst remaining skull-crushingly heavy and challenging to listen to. Credit must also go to vocalist Rafal Piotrowski who eschews the usual death growl in favour of a hoarse bellow that sounds like he’s coughing up his very soul for all to bear witness to. The rhythm section is flawless, with the new arrivals on bass and drums locking into so many tight grooves it’s almost tempting to believe they possess psychic abilities.

Like their countrymen Behemoth, Decapitated have conquered tragedy and emerged stronger than ever before. However, with no visual aspect to fall back on like Nergal et al, they have had to rely solely on their musical talents to remain relevant in a scene still bursting at the seams. But with this much skill at their disposal, looking back it almost seems embarrassing that they were ever doubted. To use a lazy comparison, Decapitated are like (Marvel Comics anti-hero) Blade; they possess all of the strengths of Death Metal and none of its weaknesses. And it’s increasingly evident they cannot be killed. Quite simply Blood Mantra is one of the finest Death Metal albums to be released now or ever and it’s difficult to see how it can be topped. One thing is for sure though, Vitek would be proud.

9.5/10

Decapitated on Facebook

 

JAMES CONWAY