RED HOT TRACK OF THE WEEK: 200 STAB WOUNDS

Song

Pangs Of Conscience

Artist

200 Stab Wounds

200 Stab Wounds backstory

200 Stab Wounds’ breakthrough, Manic Maniacal Procedures, put the quartet at the forefront of US death metal’s new wave.

Sure, 2021’s debut album Slave To The Scalpel Blade, was a rabid opening statement from the Cleveland crew, but Manic… was a modern masterpiece of old school savagery, and the hook-laden opus very nearly topped our Best Death Metal Albums of 2024 list.

The band are set to return with their third full-length, entitled Lowest Form, next year.

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Cavalera), the album will open with Pangs Of Conscience.

 In the band’s own words

“This song is about entering a point in your life where you find yourself sometimes making mistakes that go against who you really are as a human, and having to find yourself again. This song is one of the most dynamic musically and lyrically that we’ve done, and we’re really proud of it.”

The verdict on Pangs Of Conscience

With Pangs Of Conscience, 200 Stab Wounds have twisted the knife. Anyone expecting a return to the gore-splattered brutality of Slave.. might be disappointed. But fans who understand the band’s need to evolve will surely applaud this deep cut.

They’ve certainly spread their wings.

A punishing groove gives way to glorious, Swedeath melodies which tear through the songs opening stages. But Pangs Of Conscience continues to mutate, taking us from acidic, mid-tempo riffery, to open spaces where Steve Buhl’s roar roams, to a spectral outro 90s DM fans will salivate over.

Will Lowest Form be 2027’s death metal album of the year? If the rest of it hits like this, don’t bet against it.

What’s next for 200 Stab Wounds?

Lowest Form will be released on February 19 via Metal Blade Records.

The band are currently in the midst of a US tour with Tribal Gaze and Maul, and will be returning to European shores in January, with Whitechapel, Sylosis and Tribal Gaze.

The UK stint includes shows at SWG3 Galvanizers in Glasgow on January 28, London’s Electric Ballroom on January 29, Manchester Academy 2 on January 30, O2 Academy Bristol on January 31 and XOYO in Birmingham on February 1.

Band photo by Gabe Becerra.