ANASARCA “Achlys” LP

After a nine-year hiatus, the respected German old-school death metal quartet ANASARCA has returned from obscurity to present their latest, long-awaited album, *Achlys*.

*Achlys* stands as the band’s most brutal, intense, and emotional release to date. Musically, the album remains rooted in technical, melodic, and brutal death metal—featuring ANASARCA’s signature riffing style—while serving as another concept album, this time centered on the theme of grief. The lyrics were crafted based on accounts from people who had lost loved ones, reflecting both the personal experiences of the band members and losses within the broader metal community.

ANASARCA was formed in 1995 by drummer Heiner and guitarist/vocalist Mike (ex-Vomiting Corpses). Shortly after their inception, the band recorded the *Condemned Truth* demo, followed by *Godmachine* (1996), which led to a contract with Repulse Records. Their debut album, *Godmachine*, was released in 1998 and is still regarded by many fans as a classic of German death metal.

Following further lineup changes, the band released their second album, *Moribund*, in 2001 via Mighty Music. The release was notable for its unique lyrical concept—all lyrics were penned from the perspective of death row inmates—garnering the band significant acclaim and attention within the scene. In 2004, another concept album, *Dying*, was released—again through Mighty Music—featuring lyrics based on the accounts of terminally ill individuals. After a long period of silence and further lineup changes, the band returned with renewed energy. The album *Survival Mode*, released in 2017 via Sevared Records, featured a guest appearance by Kam Lee (Massacre). Lyrically, the record focused on human behavior in extreme situations and the struggle for survival.

ANASARCA’s fifth full-length album, *ACHLYS*, was recorded between February and July 2025 at Wretched Noise Studio in Oldenburg, Germany. The material was mixed by Daniel Meinzer and mastered by Dennis Israel (Scour, Amon Amarth, Primordial, Asphyx, Legion Of The Damned). All album artwork and the cover design were created by the band’s resident artist, Robert Sindermann (Havoc, Avulsed, Manticora, Beyond Twilight).

For fans of EDGE OF SANITY, SUFFOCATION, GOREFEST, OBITUARY, GRAVE