Today, American death metallers Shed the Skin reveal the new track “The Mind’s Vermin.” The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fifth album, The Carnage Cast Shadows, set for international release on May 16th via Hells Headbangers.
Says vocalist / guitarist about “The Mind’s Vermin,” “Musically, this track is a slow-death plodder of agony. It trudges and pummels with a steady beating while telling the unfortunate tale of a disgraced knight / nobleman. Nitus (maggot-sized demons) devour his sanity while he slips into sin / debauchery, unwittingly sells his soul, and succumbs to a cursed & endless ride of fire. Fucking DOOM…”
Hear Shed the Skin‘s “The Mind’s Vermin” in its entirety HERE at Hells Headbangers‘ official YouTube channel.
By now, Shed the Skin should require little introduction. Hailing from the metal hotbed of Cleveland, Ohio, Shed the Skin are a veritable hydra-head of underground experience: drummer Kyle Severn (Incantation, Perdition Sect), guitarist Matt Sorg (Ringworm, Perdition Sect, Soulless, ex-Blood of Christ), vocalist/guitarist Ash Thomas (FaithXtractor, Crucified Mortals, Surgikill, The Vladimirs), and bassist Ed Stephens (Ringworm, Shok Paris, Vindicator, Vanik). And while the band formed as a tribute to fallen friend and bandmate Tom Rojack of Blood of Christ, Shed the Skin have taken on a life of their own over four albums for Hells Headbangers – 2016’s Harrowing Faith, 2018’s We of Scorn, 2020’s The Forbidden Arts, and 2022’s Thaumogenesis, notwithstanding their Rebirth Through Brimstone debut EP in 2014 – which have reaped acclaim for their acute balance of death metal’s old school and its newer one, remaining crushing and compelling every step of the way.
Now approaching their fifth album, Shed the Skin‘s classicist-into-modernist formula has become the band’s calling card of sorts. And yet, where the aforementioned Thaumogenesis saw an ever-so-subtle transformation – tweaks of recording and cover artist, namely, but even within the songwriting itself – their forthcoming The Carnage Cast Shadows continues this positive trend. Recording once again with Noah Buchanan (Nunslaughter, Midnight, Kurnugia) at Mercinary Studios and utilizing Justin Meyers of Dark Art & Craft (Axioma, Ancient VVisdom, Perdition Sect) for the cover art, one could say that The Carnage Cast Shadows solidifies Shed the Skin‘s “second era,” so to speak, but the results are just as powerful and punishing as ever. Still 100% SATANIC DEATH, as they intended from day one, the quartet display a dazzling variety of songcraft whilst remaining deadly focused. The riffs slash and surge, this time with a touch more (DARK) melody to their buzzsawing; Severn’s drums anchor this more-streamlined attack with a dervish-like mix of speed and stomp, and even some pummeling D-beats mixed in for good measure; and solos dot the sonic landscape with drama and memorability, playing counterpart to that palatable melodicism. The production, like its predecessor, is impeccable across The Carnage Cast Shadows, maximizing Shed the Skin‘s latent power and proving that that clarity’s more crushing than ever. Like previous records, lyrical concepts are provided by Incantation‘s Chuck Sherwood: 11 new death hymns telling tales of demons, nightmare creatures, vile omens, and sacrificial / burial rites from various cultures.
What results is perhaps Shed the Skin‘s most savage and brutal record yet, given the wealth of respectable refinements to an already-noble foundation. Another masterclass of pure ‘n’ proud DEATH METAL, the 11 songs comprising this album are The Carnage Cast Shadows!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “The Mind’s Vermin” HERE at Hells Headbangers‘ official YouTube channel. Also hear the previously revealed “The Carnage Cast Shadow” HERE, also at Hells Headbangers‘ official YouTube channel. Preorder info can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Shed the Skin’s The Carnage Cast Shadows
1. The Carnage Cast Shadows
2. Crook of the Sacred Skies
3. Ice Hearted Herald
4. Henge Tomb
5. The Mind’s Vermin
6. Scion of Nyx
7. Formorian Hordes
8. Ancient Flames
9. Swarm and Talons
10. Ravenous Rage
11. Stolen from the Storm God
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