Photograph courtesy of Stillbirth
Are you prepared for whole destruction?! Stillbirth hit like a sky-high, all-devouring tsunami, mercilessly crushing ears and minds from the very first publicity to their brutal sound. The band are primarily based in Hagen, Germany, and had been based in 1999 by former guitarist and now vocalist Lukas Swiaczny. Stillbirth play their very personal eclectic mix of dying steel, grindcore, deathcore, and slamming dying steel which they name “Brutal Surf Dying Steel.”
“Survival Protocol is our ninth full-length album and the fifth idea album telling the story of an unknown hero surviving a nuclear apocalypse,” the band say. “The story started on the album Annihilation of Mankind and reaches its conclusion on Survival Protocol. It picks up the place Homo Deus left off: The true creator descends from the skies, and the epic battle for planetary dominance begins. Humanity is almost worn out, with a handful of survivors managing to flee into area. After a protracted journey, they uncover a liveable planet and start to colonize it. The occasions of this journey are advised throughout the tracks of Survival Protocol.
Monitor 1: Existence Erased
The album kicks off with “Existence Erased,” plunging listeners straight right into a dystopian world. A disturbing ambiance builds by pounding bass and synths within the intro, laying the groundwork for the band to erupt into full movement. The tune options intricate shifts between acoustic segments, blast beats, and guitar solos, all laced with dynamic tempo modifications that deliver each selection and a robust groove. Stylistically, it lies someplace between brutal dying steel, groove, slam, and surf lounge music.
The lyrics choose up proper the place Homo Deus left off: Humanity teeters on the sting of extinction. The true creator, a complicated alien species, returns to finish the human experiment and save the planet from full destruction. An epic battle nears its finish because the final survivors hijack alien spaceships to flee the planet. The lyrics seize the determined wrestle for a spot on these vessels and the chaos of escape.
For songwriter Lukas Swiaczny, it was essential to pack the whole lot the album represents into this primary observe. After listening, the viewers is aware of to count on a wild trip filled with melodic interruptions—however how wild issues actually get will turn into clear solely as the following songs hit.
Monitor 2: Trapped in Darkness
“Trapped in Darkness” transports listeners into the infinite vastness of area. Starting with a melodic intro, it rapidly escalates right into a blastbeat assault layered with wealthy melody. The tune oscillates between livid pace and groovy, melodic interludes, giving a way of touring by the cosmos. Harsh vocals amplify the heaviness, whereas the closing guitar solo opens up a completely new sonic dimension. Stylistically, it blends technical dying steel, deathcore, and melodic dying steel.
The lyrics describe the survivors’ aimless drift by area after fleeing Earth. Time stretches endlessly, and the individuals aboard develop more and more savage. With their gasoline depleted and their ships disabled, they’re pulled by a mysterious gravitational pressure—like a whirlpool—towards what seems to be a liveable planet. The touchdown, nevertheless, is not going to be mild.
Initially supposed as observe seven, “Trapped in Darkness” demanded the second spot as soon as it was completed. It balances brutality with a catchy chorus that embeds itself within the listener’s thoughts.
Monitor 3: Throne of Bones
“Throne of Bones” sees the triumphant return of Stillbirth’s notorious cowbell—an instrument that unleashes the wildest of bulls. Opening with drums underscored by the cowbell, the groove that follows will make each neck sweat. A brutal blastbeat leads into much more crushing groove, recalling the uncooked power of Stillbirth’s earlier work. It’s relentless, made for headbanging, and ends with a shock twist: a fab blues outro. Stylistically, it’s one of many album’s most brutal tracks, fusing brutal dying steel, slam, stoner, and blues rock.
The starved barbarian survivors handle to land on the brand new planet. Although their ships are wrecked, the planet gives all they should survive. They pour out of their vessels and start slaughtering the native creatures. With each alien killed, they construct the titular throne of bones, claiming the brand new territory as their very own.
Right here, Lukas aimed to channel the previous Stillbirth brutality and songwriting type. The quick blasts and grooves mirror the survivors’ ruthless nature. The addition of cowbell makes the observe over-the-top brutal—listeners received’t know whether or not to giggle or smash their furnishings.
Monitor 4: Apex Predator
“Apex Predator” follows an unusual construction for Stillbirth, incorporating clear verses and choruses. Instrumentally, it’s relentless—blasting by audio system with pure pressure. The groove-heavy refrain gives momentary reprieve, inviting listeners to nod alongside earlier than the ultimate riff brings within the groove hammer one final time. The observe sits within the realm of technical and melodic dying steel.
Lyrically, it tells of a superior apex predator who begins looking the barbarian survivors as trophies. Till now, the fauna and flora of the alien world posed little menace, lulling the settlers into complacency. However they weren’t ready for this super-powered hunter. One after the other, they fall—till the tide turns, and the hunted turn into hunters.
Quick and uncompromising, “Apex Predator” was one of many first tracks written for the album and units the tone for its extra experimental second half.
Monitor 5: Baptized in Blood
Think about you’re on a seashore—the wind in your hair, waves crashing within the background—after which “Baptized in Blood” begins with a mild acoustic intro. The peaceable second is abruptly interrupted by distorted riffs and a barrage of 320 BPM drumming main into an epic guitar solo and a right away refrain. Melodic guitar strains distinction sharply with the savage vocals till they’re as soon as once more aligned, transitioning right into a slam-heavy part. After brutal blast beats pummel the listener, an acoustic half returns to interrupt the chaos earlier than the refrain is repeated with crushing depth. Stylistically, it blends dying steel, melodic dying, slam, lounge music, and deathcore.
The lyrics depict an epic conflict with titanic, godlike creatures inhabiting the brand new world. After surviving the apex predator, the people now face one other seemingly invincible foe. Their primitive weapons show ineffective, however pushed by previous victories, they don’t again down. It’s David vs. Goliath on an alien planet.
“Baptized in Blood” marks a daring new route for the band. It’s the primary time they’ve captured their dwell surf vibe in a studio recording. Launched as the primary single, it’s their greatest stylistic leap but—nonetheless true to the Stillbirth system, however designed to be a hymn that calls for repeat performs.
Monitor 6: Cult of the Inexperienced
Stillbirth’s new slam bulldozer is right here. “Cult of the Inexperienced” is a return to roots. The observe begins with a sluggish, brutal slam, aiming solely to get slower. A blast beat follows, stirring up circle pit power, which then explodes into groove-heavy insanity. In spite of everything synapses have fired, an acoustic slam interlude interrupts the chaos—solely to be shattered by a seismic breakdown. Stylistically, it’s a mixture of slam and brutal dying steel.
The settlers have confronted many exterior risks—however weren’t ready for their very own vices. Hooked on alien substances, they start experimenting with the planet’s unusual flora. “The Cult of the Inexperienced” is born, worshiping the hallucinogenic herbs that depart them deeply addicted. Over time, the crops turn into sacred.
This observe contrasts sharply with “Baptized in Blood.” A direct punch within the face, it proves you solely want three minutes to ship a message—the message of slam. It’s a homage to all followers who love Stillbirth’s rawest facet.
Monitor 7: Sacrificial Slaughter
Darkish, brutal, and disturbing,”Sacrificial Slaughter” is quicker, extra cruel, and extra mystic than something earlier than it. It opens with a blast beat, rapidly drops right into a crushing tempo, and alternates verse and refrain with quick breaks. Towards the tip, an acoustic guitar calms the heated temper. A bleak melody progressively turns hopeful, main right into a ultimate groove part that provides the tune a novel twist. Stylistically, it mixes dying steel, deathcore, and acoustic guitar.
Having frolicked on the brand new planet, some settlers have fashioned villages. One such village doesn’t take survival as a right and begins sacrificing individuals to alien gods. By means of darkish rituals, they attempt to appease the giants and different beasts. The struggling of the victims is seen as essential to survive—or so that they imagine.
This was the ultimate observe written for “Survival Protocol,” and Lukas needed it to face aside from the remainder. Its gloomy ambiance, melodic refrain, and acoustic part make it one of many album’s most numerous items.
Monitor 8: The Survival Protocol
The title observe does precisely what it’s presupposed to—punch the listener within the face. A quick guitar riff ignites the observe at full throttle. One groove half follows the following, solely interrupted by a halftime breakdown that’ll drag your facial features straight down. Speedy-fire vocal strains underline the tune’s sheer brutality. A fusion of hardcore and dying steel, this one’s an unstoppable practice.
A mysterious fungus spreads by the settlers’ colonies, taking up human our bodies and minds. Guided by this alien fungus, the contaminated fall into insanity and ache. However one group seems immune—the Cult of the Inexperienced. By means of intense research, they’ve found a inexperienced herb that repels the an infection.
It is a get together observe—designed to maintain heads banging from begin to end. Quick breaks and transient pauses solely add to its depth. The hardcore affect provides the tune a particular groove that stands aside from the remainder of the album.
Monitor 9: Kill to Rule
The ultimate tune on “Survival Protocol” is a ballad—at the very least, a Stillbirth-style ballad. It begins with a relaxed acoustic half that leads right into a sludgy stoner steel part. Guitars and drums transfer slowly and groovily—evoking pictures of cruising a Mustang down Route 66. A large breakdown introduces the slam hammer, solely to be adopted by a return to the stoner vibe. In a ultimate epic end, dueling guitar solos battle for dominance. Stylistically, it’s a mixture of stoner and slam dying steel.
As all the time, peace doesn’t final. The settlers rally one final time, slaughtering something that may pose a future menace. The ultimate march for domination begins. Scarred from numerous battles, they received’t cease till their final mission—specified by the Survival Protocol—is full.
For Stillbirth, the closing observe all the time must be particular. “Kill to Rule” supplies an epic conclusion draped in stoner steel vibes. Possibly in the future, there’ll be a style referred to as stoner dying steel.
“Survival Protocol” is a odyssey by annihilation, survival, and the untamed chaos of rebirth. The album showcases Stillbirth’s means to mix brutality with innovation. We’re merging old-school slam and dying steel roots with experimental twists, melodic depth, and even moments of whole calm. Throughout 9 tracks, the we push our signature sound into daring new territories with out dropping the relentless aggression our followers count on.
The strongest moments lie within the distinction. Between groove and blast beats, magnificence and filth, melody and chaos. Songs like “Baptized in Blood” and “Kill to Rule” stand out as genre-blurring highlights, whereas tracks like “Cult of the Inexperienced” and “The Survival Protocol” are unapologetic moshing anthems. If there’s a weak point, it might lie within the overwhelming density, however for followers of utmost music, that’s not a flaw; it’s a function.
This album is important listening for followers of bands like Aborted, Ingested, Cattle Decapitation and Dying Fetus, but in addition for these open to style fusion and concept-driven dying steel. In case you’re new to Stillbirth, we advocate additionally testing Revive the Throne and Homo Deus to completely grasp the evolution resulting in this new brutal launch.
