Listen to the First New Mithras Song in Nine Years, “The Statue on the Island”

UK brutal death metallers Mithras sure have kept a low profile lately; after a trio of crushing full-lengths in the early-mid ’00s, the duo hasn’t released any music since the Time Never Lasts EP in 2011. Even that release only included two brand new songs; three of the EP’s five tracks were live versions of old songs.

Finally, Mithras will return in 2016 for their first full-length in nine years. On Strange Loops will be released later this year via Willowtip Records, and while no exact date for that release has been announced yet the band’s put out a full song for us to hear, “The Statue on the Island.” It’s a fierce one, a death metal ripper that goes for the throat right out of the gate. It hasn’t got as much of that slow, punishing groove for which Mithras are known — and Gojira have since perfected — but maybe that’s deliberate; a lot can change in nine years. Leon Macey impresses as always with his stellar drum AND guitar work, while Rayner Coss’s death bellow provides the perfect vehicle for communicating the torment within to the masses. In short: this track rules.

UK Mithras fans can catch the band live this summer at two dates, listed below, with Tom Hyde (Sarpanitum) on second guitar and Julien Helwin (Monument Of Misanthropy, Horncrowned,Withdrawn) on drums.

7/5/16 London, UK @ The Dome (London Incineration Festival)
13/08/16 Jaromer, CZ @ Brutal Assault Festival