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LORD GRYPHUS Announce Debut Album
Masked Death Ritual
LORD GRYPHUS are taking their masked and anonymous three-piece identity beyond the music with their debut full-length, "Summoning the King of Death", which reaches back to the ethos of early-'90s death metal. Hailing from Austin, Texas, the band’s album, set for release on CD via Nespithe Records, builds a dark narrative around death, ritual, and resistance.
At the heart of the band’s identity is Lord Gryphus, a carrion deity inspired by Vultur gryphus, the Andean condor, around which a symbolic connection between death and spiritual power is established. Operating as a fully masked and anonymous trio, LORD GRYPHUS make execution, sacrifice, and ritual devotion central to both their musical and thematic approach.
"Summoning the King of Death" does not use this framework merely as a visual concept. In its lyrics, LORD GRYPHUS confront colonial violence, cultural erasure, and imposed religion while also invoking ancestral traditions and forgotten histories. As a result, the album approaches death not through fear, but through a sense of reverence and ritual.
Musically, the band draws on some of the defining names of early-'90s extreme metal. Carrying the influence of MORBID ANGEL, GOREFEST, SEPULTURA, GRAVE, AUTOPSY, INCANTATION, and SINISTER, LORD GRYPHUS combine raw death metal execution with a dense atmosphere and a strong sense of ritual.
Another notable aspect of the album is its guest contributions. "Summoning the King of Death" features a rendition of SEPULTURA's 'Troops Of Doom', with CREEPING DEATH vocalist Reese Alavi providing guest vocals, while Mike De León, known for his work with FLESH HOARDER and SOULFLY, contributes a guitar solo.
During the recording process, Jeff Henson handled tracking, reamping, guitars, and bass at Red Nova Ranch in Bastrop, Texas. The vocals were recorded and produced by Kike Valderrama at Buziraco’s Lair Studio. The album was mixed and mastered by Andrés Mauricio Gallón at Sound Blast Studios in Armenia, Colombia.
LORD GRYPHUS have also begun making their presence felt on the live circuit ahead of the album’s release. The band performed on select dates of death metal veterans INTERNAL SUFFERING's 30th-anniversary North American tour, taking their ceremonial approach to devastation to stages across the southern United States.
In a statement about "Summoning the King of Death", the band describes the album as a declaration of their allegiance to the raw spirit of early-'90s death metal, noting that its ritualistic atmosphere and approach to death carry the theme beyond the boundaries of time and culture.
The album will be released internationally on September 25 via Nespithe Records in CD format. Videos for 'Bloodbath Dominion' and the SEPULTURA cover 'Troops Of Doom' are available through the band’s official YouTube channel, while the full album can be streamed and pre-ordered via Nespithe Records' Bandcamp page.