US death metal band ARTIFICIAL BRAIN have released ‘Planet: Carrion’, the second single from their upcoming album “Antillia”, due out November 13 via Profound Lore Records. Guitarist Dan Gargiulo’s comments highlight the ways in which the track departs from the band’s usual songwriting approach.

According to Gargiulo, ‘Planet: Carrion’ stands apart from typical ARTIFICIAL BRAIN material in both its writing process and musical structure. Developed through an exchange of ideas between Gargiulo and Sam Smith as they co-wrote the riffs, the track ventures into previously unexplored territory, particularly in harmonic terms. Notes that disrupt the consonance of seemingly melodic riffs and unconventional chord changes are central to this approach.

‘Planet: Carrion’ is also the slowest song the band have written to date, though its measured pace gives way to a pronounced explosion in the closing section. Gargiulo believes that releasing the track as an early single could surprise longtime fans by breaking with the band’s established conventions.

Alex Moréan, who edited the song’s video, places the idea of a dying planet at the centre of the visual concept. Moréan explains that he approached the concept from the planet’s perspective, questioning what might come after the destruction, beyond the barren wasteland left behind. He sums up this approach with the words, “Planet Carrion is the aftermath of the aftermath.”

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Comprising nine tracks, “Antillia” explores beings transformed by the effects of space and time, addressing themes of invasion, alien diseases, environmental contamination and the transformation of the human body. The album’s science-fiction narrative aligns with the band’s musical approach, which fuses a death metal foundation with sinuous, futuristic black metal melodies.

The new record is described as ARTIFICIAL BRAIN’s shortest and most aggressive album to date. Built around blastbeat-driven passages, frenetic guitar solos and hazy textures, the music also carries a melancholic atmosphere beneath its ferocity. The closing title track, ‘Antillia (in Chromatic Aberration)’, brings this feeling to the fore through its longing for a homeworld that can never be returned to.

“Antillia” also represents a new chapter for the band following changes to their lineup and working setup. Mike Paparo of INTER ARMA handles vocals, while Alex Tomlin of BATTLEMASTER takes over on drums. Founding members Dan Gargiulo and Samuel Smith are joined by guitarist Oleg Zalman.

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