VIDEO PREMIERE: Panzerchrist drops a full-on death metal assault with 'Blood Leeches' • GRIMM Gent

Unrelentlessly, PANZERCHRIST continues to unveil their next studio album, “Maleficium Part I”. This time they release the digital single (and lyric video) “Blood Leeches”, a full-on fast paced death metal assault with both old-school and modern influences about the ancient alchemistic practice of bloodletting. Vile and vicious!

“Last Of A Kind” was, last year, more than just a “comeback album” for Panzerchrist. Right, it was a whole decade since the release of their previous record “7th Offensive”, but the Danes came back with a vengeance in their eighth offering. New blood joined the hardcore duo of the lineup (bassist and keyboardist Michael “Panzergeneral” Enevoldsen and guitarist Frederik O’Carroll), most notably vocalist Sonja Rosenlund Ahl, whose malicious tone fitted like a glove the newfound black/death metal style of the band.

“As a long-time fan of Panzerchrist it was a great honor to join the band”, Sonja offers, about her feelings about joining such an established name. “For “Last Of A Kind” all music was already recorded when I was asked to write witchy lyrics and vocal tracks for the album. Both musically and personally we instantly clicked and has felt meant to be. I’m so proud to contribute to the development and ongoing legacy of Panzerchrist”, she enthuses.

Not surprisingly, the critics loved “Last Of A Kind”, as well as the fans and, after the release, Panzerchrist played several festival shows in Denmark while Michael Enevoldsen began working on the following album. Enter “Maleficium Part I”, a set of material where the band made a conscious decision to steer the Panzerchrist sound towards a more death metal direction. When the group coincidentally bumped into Ove Lungskov (also of Rotten Ocean), they asked him to try out for the drummer position. Ove, a big fan of Panzerchrist’s previous work, initially thought they were joking, but it quickly became clear that he was the perfect fit. His playing style not only matched the band’s previous material but also aligned perfectly with their future vision. With Ove on board, the band leaned even further into death metal, amplifying the speed and brutality with fast blast beats and thunderous double kicks.

“Michael is the main songwriter”, Frederik O’Carroll says, about how the new members inject ideas in the Panzerchrist’s established sound on the new album. “That being said, especially Oves drumming, as well as Sonja’s lyrics, are essential parts of the sound of this incarnation of Panzerchrist. On the music side of things, we wanted to get back to a more double bass-driven sound. Ove has a fast, but also an incredibly heavy style of drumming which added an extra layer of heaviness in the studio”, he concludes.

With Ove on board, drums and vocals were recorded at Tue Madsen’s Antfarm Studios in early 2024, with Madsen also handling the mixing and mastering of the new album. “Maleficium Part I”, has a fast yet heavy approach, featuring atmospheric parts that perfectly complement Sonja’s medieval tales of witches, witchcraft, and all things evil. The record delves even deeper into esoteric themes, further developing the elements explored in their last release. The result is seven tracks that balance both blistering speed and slower, driving efforts with haunting soundscapes and melody, all crafted with Ove’s playing style in mind. The outcome is “Maleficium”, a blend of Panzerchrist’s signature intensity and a renewed focus on melody and atmosphere.

“I feel that “Maleficium Pt. 1” sort of connects the dots between the style of previous releases, but it also develops the atmosphere of our previous album”, Frederik offers. “Especially the lyrics add an extra dimension to the feel of the album”.

Sonja also elaborates on this full-circle theory. Not only for part one of the “Maleficium” two-part concept but for the whole work. “From “Last Of A Kind”, “Maleficium” is a return to a faster, more intense death metal sound with both old school and modern influences”, she says. “A deeper viciousness in both the sound and lyrics ties knots to earlier Panzerchrist releases and both new and dedicated fans will recognize Michael Enevoldsens distinct style of composing that he has taken to a new level on this album. “Maleficium” is a manifestation of the musical depth and diversity Panzerchrist is: fast and furious old school death metal with layers of icy black metal riffs and dark doomy passages”.

“Maleficium Part I” will be released on LP (black vinyl, limited to 300 copies), CD and digital on December 6th, 2024 via Emanzipation Productions.