MENTAL CRUELTY Release New Album Echoes of a Forlorn Land. Icy Battles and a Tribute to Children of Bodom Await

German deathcore outfit MENTAL CRUELTY released their new studio album Echoes of a Forlorn Land on 23 October. Released via Century Media Records, the record represents the band's most ambitious work to date, combining brutal deathcore with melodic death metal, Nordic folk and cinematic orchestration.

Following the success of its predecessor, Zwielicht, MENTAL CRUELTY embark on a journey inspired by Norse mythology and ancient folklore. Listeners can expect forgotten kingdoms, merciless winters and legendary battles, where crushing heaviness meets haunting melodies and a monumental atmosphere.

Vocalist Lukas Nicolai comments: "This album will take you on a journey. You'll fight ancient beasts, brave an endless winter, and even soar through the sky with the Valkyries. To accompany you on this epic quest, we've poured everything into these songs, drawing from the darkest and most powerful elements of metal subgenres like black, folk and death metal. We wrote the heaviest and most ambitious songs we could possibly imagine, then teamed up with one of metal's most renowned producers and some of the finest music video creators. We've worked harder on this album than anything else in our lives, and we think you can hear that in every note. No corners were cut, and we couldn't be happier with the result. So crank up the volume, dive into the album and listen to it from start to finish. Trust me, you won't regret it!"

Speaking about Cry of Batariel, one of the album's main highlights, he adds: "With 'Cry of Batariel', we've paid tribute to one of our all-time favourite bands – Children Of Bodom, who were also a major influence on our new record. The song is fast, brutal and comes with a touch of humour. It tells the story of Batariel, a fallen angel from the Book of Enoch who is expelled from heaven. In our version, he basically gives God the finger and declares that he'd rather head down to party with the outcasts. Because let's face it – heaven must be pretty boring. Although the song's lyrics are quite different from the rest of the album, we wanted to sneak in a little Easter egg for everyone who still listens to albums in their entirety. Even the song's title can be abbreviated to C.O.B. See what we did there?"

Production, mixing and mastering of Echoes of a Forlorn Land were handled by Jens Bogren, known for his work with Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Amon Amarth and Opeth. Alongside the single Cry of Batariel, the album features the ferocious tracks Fenrir and The Serpent of Midgard, as well as the monumental closing track Ride of the Valkyries.

MENTAL CRUELTY Set Out on a European Headline Tour!

This November and December, MENTAL CRUELTY will bring Echoes of a Forlorn Land across Europe on an extensive 21-date headline tour. They will be joined throughout the tour by Ov Sulfur and Extermination Dismemberment, with Acranius and Sun Eater appearing on selected dates. The Czech stop is scheduled for 15 December at Rock Café in Prague. Tickets are available here.

About the Band

Since forming in 2014, MENTAL CRUELTY have evolved from their deathcore roots into an internationally recognised name in extreme metal. Their rise has taken them across Europe and beyond, sharing stages with bands such as Lorna Shore, Cradle of Filth, Carnifex, Shadow of Intent, Kanonenfieber, Signs of the Swarm and many others. With a growing worldwide fanbase and a reputation for delivering electrifying live performances, MENTAL CRUELTY continue to cement their position among the leading acts of a new generation of extreme metal. Echoes of a Forlorn Land marks another major step forward, presenting their most expansive and fully realised musical vision to date.