Lord Mantis Unveils New Cover Art We’ve Been Bracing For (NSFW)

Our little loving laugh with Lord Mantis began in November upon the announcement that their upcoming album, Death Mask, was to be “darker” than their 2012 classic, Pervertor. The idea was too grand to be idle promo talk, yet too incredible to be believed; after all, Pervertor is vomitous even by death metal’s standards of filth. We at MS guffawed affectionately.

But later, when we spoke to Lord Mantis screamer-bassist Charlie Fell, the picture of Death Mask came into sharper focus. Fell detailed a personal season in hell, a band whose members don’t exactly share hugs, and the resulting departure from the “casual antagonism” of Pervertor. Our friendly giggles trailed off like a toilet completing its flush. We had spoken too soon.

Then we saw this tweet from Profound Lore Records, whose roster Lord Mantis has joined:

@AnsoDF @metalsucks @EarsplitPR I can’t wait to officially reveal the album cover. That should be a fun and joyous occasion.

— Profound Lore (@profound_lore) January 23, 2014

Oh perfect. Well, that day has arrived. Check it out (and Pervertor‘s here) and join us in retracting any skepticism about Death Mask‘s pitch.

Death Mask track listing
1. Body Choke
2. Death Mask
3. Possession Prayer
4. You Will Gag For The Fix
5. Negative Birth
6. Coil
7. Three Crosses

Lord Mantis’ third album Death Mask will be out April 29 on Profound Lore.