New Jersey death metal act NIGHTS OF MALICE have premiered a video for "Reject The Host" at Slam Worldwide. The track is the opening song from the band's Chaos Exordium full-length, released last month via Bleeding Art Collective and Blood Blast Distribution (Nuclear Blast Records/Believe).
"We have been absolutely blown away with the reception we have had for the new album, from some killer reviews through to seeing people tear it up to the new songs on the [band's recent US] Chaos & Misery Tour, it's been an awesome experience," says vocalist Brendan McGrath. "We worked so hard on this album and were so confident it was our best work yet, so to get that response has been really rewarding and total confirmation. We now present the next video from the album, 'Reject The Host.' This song captures it all! We wanted to have a blistering opening track for Chaos Exordium. In the past, we've always had a buildup into the first song, but this time around, we wanted something that goes from 0-100 the moment you press play."
Chaos Exordium was produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio, the team behind albums from BLACK CROWN INITIATE, AUGUST BURNS RED, RIVERS OF NIHIL, and THE GHOST INSIDE. Album artwork was created by Andriy Tkalenko.
"Our goal was to make the heaviest, most intense NIGHTS OF MALICE album ever," McGrath reflects. "We've experimented with our sound in a lot of different ways, but one thing we all agree on is that we are at our best when we're riffing all over the place. Our writing process always starts with guitar, so it comes naturally to us most of the time.
"Over the years, my lyrical themes have shifted from existential sort of themes to more horror inspired themes," he continues. "I wanted the lyrics to bring a level of brutality that matches the music. I really tapped into my love of old school death metal, horror movies, and video games for these lyrics. It felt like the right thing to do for a record with a sound like this one."
With technical riffing, groove, and rapid-fire vocal phrasing in the vein of PSYCROPTIC, WHITECHAPEL, ABORTED, and ARCHSPIRE, NIGHTS OF MALICE stand as one of the strongest acts to emerge from New Jersey's death metal scene.
Chaos Exordium is out now on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Physical orders are available here, digital here.
Track listing:
- Reject The Host
- Ex-Mortis
- A Message In Blood
- Stitched (feat. Bobby Yagodich of VERMINOTH)
- Riches To The Conjurer (feat. Chaney Crabb of ENTHEOS)
- The Hand Of Death
- Gore Nest
- To Live Undead
- The Inhuman Experience