GRUESOME: 'Fatal Illusions' Video Released

Death metal defenders of the old GRUESOME have released the official video for the song "Fatal Illusions". The track is taken from the band's second album, "Twisted Prayers", which will be released on June 1 via Relapse Records.

Commented GRUESOME guitarist/vocalist Matt Harvey: "'Fatal Illusions' is a track that was truly co-written by Dan, Gus and myself musically and it was a lot of fun to arrange everyone’s riffs while we put the song together.

"One of the coolest things about this new record for me personally is that the writing has become more and more of a team effort, which is invigorating and keeps things interesting for us.

"When looking at 'Spiritual Healing' for inspiration, one of the more depressing realizations that I came to as far as the lyrics was that many of the topics that DEATH were addressing back in 1990 are still major issues today.

"As everyone knows, mass shootings have reached epidemic proportions in this country and we felt that it was a very 'death metal'-appropriate topic to tackle.

"This tune is more about the delusions that lead someone to commit this kind of violence; the mindset that would make someone take such a drastic and tragic course of action.

"Before anyone starts projecting their own politics on the song, this is not an anti- or pro-gun song. This is an anti-mass-shooting song. And if you think that there's anything controversial about that, you can fuck right off."

GRUESOME has announced two exclusive concerts in Florida with labelmates EXHUMED before its European tour this summer in support of "Twisted Prayers". The "Twisting Europe 2018" tour begins July 19 at Obscene Extreme in Trutnov, Czech Republic and ends August 12 at Alcatraz Open Air in Kortrijk, Belgium.

Less than four short years into its career, the members of GRUESOME have quickly made a name for themselves as not just torchbearers of DEATH's eternal legacy but as one of the most heralded bands in the scene today. After releasing a pair of acclaimed EPs, GRUESOME returns with "Twisted Prayers". The new disc follows DEATH's paradigm shift during the "Spiritual Healing" era, incorporating more cerebral, melodic instrumentation with elements of thrash and thought-provoking, socially conscious lyrics.

Recorded with producer Jarrett Pritchard (EXHUMED, 1349, GOATWHORE) at New Constellation Studios in Orlando, Florida, "Twisted Prayers" features GRUESOME doing what they do best across eight songs and 40-plus minutes of unholy hymns with lurid melodies and vulgar atmospheres. The band has once again teamed up with the legendary Ed Repka (DEATH, ATHEIST, MASSACRE) for the album's blasphemous cover art in addition to legendary DEATH guitarist James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, TESTAMENT) for a pair of special guest guitar solos.

Photo credit: Ryan Tamm