Metal Anarchy

Carrion Vael have announced a new album titled “Slay Utterly.” The effort will be released on January 16 and it will focus on the crimes of different serial killers. The first single, “19(fucking)78,” was inspired by the Hillside Stranglers and a music video for it can be found below:

“Slay Utterly” Track Listing:

01. “19(fucking)78“
02. “Truth Or Consequences“
03. “1912“
04. “30 On 9“
05. “40 Echoes Upon The Parlor“
06. “Lord Of 74“
07. “Bisection 47“
08. “Black Chariot“

The band commented on the album:

“‘Slay Utterly’ is our 3rd release on Unique Leader Records, and it’s our best work to date. The stories told within these songs mimic the chaos that is each individual song. It’s brutal, it’s fast, and its moments of reprieve are relatively short lived, before the barbarism starts all over again.”

They also added the following about the single:

“To live in California during the 1970’s was to live within a cloud of terror cast by The Hillside Stranglers. The details about the abductions, torture, and public disposal of bodies upon the hillsides of southern California were gruesome and unsettling, and with each news report, a darkness seeped into the aspect of everyday life for citizens of the Golden State. The Captures of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono offered some closure, but the scars remained. The Hillside Stranglers case became a chilling reminder of the capacity for human cruelty, and forced Californians to confront the darkest aspects of their reality. ’19(fucking)78′ dives into the most brutal aspects of this case and holds nothing back in the process.”

A further breakdown of the album’s eight tracks was also shared in a press release:

“‘Slay Utterly‘ opens with “19(fucking)78“, which instantly sets the tone for the album’s intensity and nuance. Featuring layers of technical guitar parts, slam riffs, and clean vocals, the band leaves no skill in their toolbox unused. Lyrically, the song is set in 1970s California; a particularly violent time in history, given the presence of the Hillside Stranglers. The lyrics contemplate issues of nature versus nurture, as well as an obsession with control by any means possible.

Opening with ominous Spanish guitar arpeggios, “Truth or Consequences” tells the story of David Parker Ray, best-known as the Toy Box Killer. Living in the remote deserts of New Mexico, Ray built a soundproof bunker on his land, where he would kidnap women who were passing through. His number of kills remains unknown, though estimates are high.

“1912” then presents itself as one of the more theatrical and progressive songs on the album. The lyrics tell of an unsolved axe murder that shook the small town of Villisca, Iowa on a hot June night in 1912. To this day, no one knows who really committed the strange and horrific murders of two adults and six children, but speculations abound. The lyrics explore each speculation, varying from train-hopping sociopaths, scorned business associates, or even evangelical madmen.

Fast, heavy, and catchy, “30 on 9” is a quintessential CARRION VAEL track. It delves into various aspects of the mystery of Jack the Ripper, ranging from his true identity, his victims, and the bloody details of his murders. He was believed to have murdered Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes on September 30th, with this date lending the song its title.

Guitarist Ryan Kuder shines on “40 Echoes Upon the Parlor“, with rapid-fire riffs and blazing lead sections throughout. Clean vocals make a notable appearance in the choruses, wailing spectrally above a mass of blast beats and growls. The lyrics tell of numerous smaller axe murder cases, referencing Lizzie Borden most prominently.

“Lord of 74” opens almost innocently and uncharacteristically for the band, with delicate piano notes and the sound of water dripping in the background. Low, mournful clean vocals build an atmosphere of remorse and anguish until the song explodes into the fury that defines CARRION VAEL. The song tells the story of Joseph Kallinger, a schizophrenic shoe cobbler from Philadelphia who believed that God had sent him to murder every person on Earth… and that with the help of his children, he could complete this task.

“Bisection 47” embodies unrelenting rage from the first note to the last. The song explores the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia. She was found cut in half (bisected) from the waist, and the identity of her killer remains unknown. The murder has left its mark on history as one of the biggest true crime mysteries to date.

The final track, “Black Chariot“, was originally recorded for CARRION VAEL‘s album God Killer (2020). As a fan favorite, the band decided to update the song and re-record it for Slay Utterly. Despite the fact that it was recorded for a different album, “Black Chariot” picks up right where “Bisection 47” left off, with layers of vicious snarls and stunning lead guitar work.”