Axis Mundi (album)

Axis Mundi
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 21, 2017 (2017-07-21)
Recorded2015–2016
Studio
Various
    • Private Ear Recording (Winnipeg, Canada)
    • Matt Sotelo's own Studio
    • Sean Martinez's own Studio
GenreTechnical death metal
Length41:44
Label
Decrepit Birth chronology
Polarity
(2010)
Axis Mundi
(2017)

Axis Mundi is the fourth studio album by technical death metal band Decrepit Birth, released on July 21, 2017, via Nuclear Blast (in North America) and Agonia (in Europe and the rest of the world).[1][2] It is the band's first studio album to feature drummer Sam Paulicelli and bassist Sean Martinez, as well as the first album since 2010's Polarity.[3]

Recording and release

Axis Mundi was recorded during 2015–2016 at various studios: drums part were recorded by Ryan Forsyth at Private Ear Studios in Winnipeg, Canada; bass and guitars part were recorded at guitarist Matt Sotelo and bassist Sean Martinez's own studios respectively. Stefano Morabito handled the mixing and mastering duties at 16th Cellar Studios in Rome, Italy. The cover artwork was once again designed by artist Dan Seagrave.[4]

On September 3, 2015, drummer Sam Paulicelli posted a studio footage on YouTube about his drum tracking for Decrepit Birth's brand new album.[5] On September 22, 2015, the band confirmed on their Facebook page that vocalist Bill Robinson was in the studio tracking vocal part.[6] The album was officially completed on October 17, 2016.[7]

On May 18, 2017, the band announced that the album would be released on July 21, 2017, along with the track listing, cover artwork and an accompanying 360° lyric video for the song "Epigenetic Triplicty".[8][9] The second song "Hieroglyphic" was available for streaming on YouTube on June 15, 2017.[10]

Background

In the band's official biography, guitarist and main songwriter Matt Sotelo commented on Axis Mundi:

We've gone through an evolution throughout the years. The last couple of albums we had, Diminishing Between Worlds and Polarity, were more progressive death metal. They were different from ...And Time Begins, which is a different genre of death metal. It's more brutal. I'm the type of guy who likes to experiment. ...And Time Begins has no solos. It's all really fast palm-muted riffs. The other albums breathed more with the guitars. I let chords ring out on Diminishing Between Worlds and Polarity. Axis Mundi is combination of all the stuff I'm into. I like it a lot right now. It's more melodic. The riffs repeat intentionally. I want to have fun with these songs.[11][12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Decrepit Birth, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Vortex of Infinity – Axis Mundi"4:16
2."Spirit Guide"5:33
3."The Sacred Geometry"4:26
4."Hieroglyphic"5:16
5."Transcendental Paradox"4:31
6."Mirror of Humanity"4:30
7."Ascendant"4:44
8."Epigenic Triplicity"5:44
9."Embryogenesis" (instrumental)2:44
Total length:41:44
Digipak edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."Orion" (instrumental; Metallica cover) 8:10
11."Desperate Cry" (Sepultura cover)Andreas KisserSepultura6:28
12."Infecting the Crypts" (Suffocation cover)Doug Cerrito
4:50
Total length:61:12

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[4]

Decrepit Birth

Additional musicians

Production

References

  1. ^ "DECREPIT BIRTH - Nuclear Blast". Nuclear Blast. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  2. ^ "Decrepit Birth: New Album Out Now". Agonia Records. July 21, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  3. ^ "Decrepit Birth to Release First Album in 7 Years 'Axis Mundi', Reveal New Song 'Epigenic Triplicity'". Ultimate Guitar Archive. May 19, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Axis Mundi digipak edition CD liner notes (NB 3794-0). Nuclear Blast. 2017.
  5. ^ Greg Kennelty (September 4, 2015). "Decrepit Birth Drummer Posted Sick Drum Footage From In The Studio!". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  6. ^ Axl Rosenberg (September 22, 2015). "Decrepit Birth's Bill Robinson Emerges from Woods, Records Vocals for New Album". MetalSucks. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  7. ^ "Decrepit Birth completes new album". Lambgoat. October 17, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  8. ^ wookubus (May 18, 2017). "Decrepit Birth To Release New Album 'Axis Mundi' In July, Stream 'Epigenetic Triplicty'". Theprp.com. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Decrepit Birth – Epigenetic Triplicty (360 Visualizer Official Video)". YouTube. May 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Decrepit Birth Release 'Hieroglyphic' Lyric Video". bravewords.com. June 16, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "Decrepit Birth announce new record Axis Mundi; premiere first single "Epigenetic Triplicity"". MetalNerd. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  12. ^ Chris Dick. "Decrepit Birth Biography (2017)". Decrepit Birth. Retrieved August 30, 2017.