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VIROLOGIST to Release Debut Full-Length, Recorded in Just Three Months
VIROLOGIST Recorded Its Debut in Three Months
Southern California brutal death metal band VIROLOGIST will release its debut full-length, "Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms", on November 13 via New Standard Elite. The album was written, recorded, and produced by the band during an intense three-month period this summer. Its first single, 'Opium-Induced Extrasensory Entrancement', features guest vocals from Ayato Yabuki of GYAKUKI.
Formed in 2023 as a project by Emrys Mellinger, who was just 17 at the time, VIROLOGIST says it has used brutal death metal on its new album as a vehicle for bringing together a range of different musical ideas. The band had the following to say about the creative process behind the record:
“Although the album’s concept took shape over two years, we completed most of the writing, recording, and production in just three months. Our goal wasn’t simply to make brutal death metal, but to use the genre as a medium for expressing our other ideas and influences. The material came together naturally as we jammed in our rehearsal space. We tried to create something that pushes beyond the boundaries of the genre and can be appreciated by listeners from different musical backgrounds. We feel that music today is far too contrived and image-dependent, so we strive to write songs that come from a sincere place.”
Taking full responsibility for the album’s production, the band also maintained control throughout the recording process. Emrys Mellinger and drummer Ethan Shadman played a key role in shaping the compositions through extended sessions at their rehearsal space in Oxnard, California. Guitars, bass, and vocals were recorded at Mellinger Studios, while the drums were tracked at The Captains Quarters Studio in Ventura. Mike Mellinger and VIROLOGIST handled the mixing, with Jamie King taking care of mastering.
The first single, 'Opium-Induced Extrasensory Entrancement', also showcases one of the album’s guest vocal collaborations. Logan Calvaresi contributes guest vocals to 'Reanimation of Mechanical Flesh Through Cybernetic Enslavement'.
Consisting of eight tracks, "Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms" will arrive on November 13. Its release coincides with SoCal Brutal Death Fest, which begins that day in El Monte, California, and runs through November 14. Festival details and tickets are available on New Standard Elite’s dedicated page.