On April 19th the Chicago-based extreme metal band Opium Death will release a debut album named Genocidal Nemesis. It’s an angry album, focused on hubris and its role in the downfall of humankind. The album’s cover art itself draws on this theme. As the band’s bassist/vocalist Donald Nadzieja explains:
For the significance of the album artwork, to us, it represents hubristic suicide, self-end caused by something you were foolishly convinced was a good thing. Obvious heroin reference but the guy on the needle was addicted to money and power. It is a common theme that happens throughout the album and we thought this represented that very well.
As you’ll see, this theme surfaces in the second single from the new album that we’re premiering today. Its name is “The Condemned“.
L-R – Donald Nadzieja – Bass and Vocals, Luis Torres – Guitar, Dennis Blake – Drums, Irvin Gonzalez – Guitar
Photo Credit – Michael Gonzalez
The band explain that “The Condemned” isn’t really a new song, since they’ve been playing it since 2017, but it’s been re-recorded, remixed, and remastered, and tweaked to bring it more in line with their current sound. The result is a track that’s ugly, mutilating, and rabidly murderous — it shows not even a whisper of mercy to the condemned, and eventually it revels in the delirious slaughtering it metes out.
At the outset, backed by bone-splintering drumwork and bowel-loosening bass-lines, the distorted chords create visions of a foul, lurching monstrosity, given voice through gruesome gutturals. The music seems to drag and ooze foulness… but this is mere prelude to a rampage.
Still ugly in its tone, the riffing heats up, bizarrely roiling and writhing; the vocals erupt in crazed, larynx-shredding screams and yells; and the drums maniacally spasm and viciously rumble. But the true delirium arrives through screeching and screaming guitar solos that threaten to melt through the strings as they insanely spiral into the stratosphere, followed by one last assault of slashing and gutting riffage and battering percussion.
Guitarist Irvin Gonzalez shares this about “The Condemned“:
At the time that I was writing this song, especially coming up with the lyrics, there was a trend of stories coming out in the news and social media about school bullying being an increasing phenomenon amongst children and how the victims ended up committing suicide. This angered me to write a song for those victims but in a way that reflects their thoughts and feelings in the afterlife. I treated the idea of bullying as a physical figure that needs to be taken out in the same manner and fashion if not more because it infects many children’s minds and causes this terrible widespread epidemic.
Musically, it is a straightforward metal track and has a groove that I hope captivates the listener to look into the lyrics to know what it is about because this bullying sickness is never taken seriously. It is talked about yes, but it is still happening. While I do not condone responding back with life-taking intent, I hope it brings forth a feeling of anger and disgust for these kinds of actions taking place in learning environments and social gatherings.
Genocidal Nemesis was produced, mixed, and mastered by Donald Nadzieja, and it features cover art by Caio Caldas at CadiesArt. It comes recommended for fans of Death, Gojira, Cannibal Corpse, Cattle Decapitation, and Dying Fetus.
PRE-SAVE/PRE-ORDER:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/opiumdeath/the-condemned
https://opiumdeath.bandcamp.com/album/genocidal-nemesis
MORE INFO:
https://opiumdeathofficial.com/
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