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MALHAVOC Announces New Album Inspired by Poe’s Red Death
MALHAVOC Reimagines Poe’s Red Death
Toronto-based industrial/thrash metal band MALHAVOC has announced its new conceptual album, "The Masquerade’s Death", inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death. Set for release via Cursed Blessings Records, the album brings the band’s thrash metal roots back together with horror atmospheres, industrial soundscapes, and operatic elements.
The album’s story explores loss, the weight of everyday life, and anxiety about the future through the idea that even the privileged cannot escape the devastation of a pandemic. One of the notable elements of this narrative is the album’s title track, ‘The Masque Of The Red Death’. The song is described as the last piece the band’s original members wrote together in 1985 and is being re-recorded by original members Dave C., John C., and Jimi C. (LaMort).
Alongside the MALHAVOC lineup, "The Masquerade’s Death" features guest appearances from Connor Lex Grant of Trick Casket, Ian Mumble of Overthrow, and founding member Nigel Williams. Current members Steve Jelliman, Lee “Sik Dogg” McCormack, and Jimi LaMort also handle multiple instruments across the album.
The entire album was conceived and recorded by Jimi LaMort, who also handled the mixing. Musically, MALHAVOC returns to its thrash metal roots on the new release while expanding that foundation with horror-film atmospheres and industrial sounds.
The album’s first preview has arrived in the form of ‘Respectfully Decline’, accompanied by a lyric video. LaMort explains that the song was chosen as the album’s first preview because it is the shortest track in the story and, in the band’s words, another “fuck you song.”
Watch the ‘Respectfully Decline’ lyric video
"The Masquerade’s Death" will be released on LP, CD, and digital formats on November 13. Preorders for the album are available through the Cursed Blessings Records online store.
Cursed Blessings Records preorder page
The album’s tracklist is as follows:
‘The Masque Of The Red Death’
‘Respectfully Decline’
‘The Fact’
‘The Harrow’
‘Through The Cruel Light’
‘Distant Noize’
Active since 1985, MALHAVOC has followed a trajectory spanning thrash metal, industrial metal, and electronic influences throughout its career. The band’s earlier work includes thrash metal releases such as "Age Of The Dark Renaissance" (1985) and "Shrine" (1986), followed by the more industrial approach of "The Release" (1990), "Punishments" (1991), and "Premeditated Murder" (1992). "Get Down" (1994) and "The Lazarus Complex" (1996) are cited as releases where electronic influences became more prominent.
MALHAVOC will continue working on new material following "The Masquerade’s Death". One of the projects currently in development is "Anthems For The New Flesh", a David Cronenberg tribute composed entirely of cover songs.
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