Cannibal Corpse are Recording a New Album

So many bands have delayed making new albums during the pandemic in favor of rosier times when they can tour to support their hard work. But not Cannibal Corpse, who have decided to just get on with it: according to a new Instagram post by George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, the band are currently in the studio working on a follow-up to Red Before Black, which came out in 2017. What’s less clear is whether guitarist Pat O’Brien is involved.

The photo shows Corpsegrinder with headphones on, a mic in the background, and paper taped to the wall, with the simple caption “Guess what I’m doing” followed by a series of tags and hashtags. Bassist Alex Webster, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz and guitarist Rob Barrett are all name-checked, along with producer Erik Rutan and his recording studio, Mana. Rutan may also be functioning as the second guitar player, a role he’s filled since early 2019. Unless Cannibal Corpse are purposely being coy about the whole thing, it seems as if Pat O’Brien is not involved.

O’Brien was arrested in December of 2018 on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Authorities were reportedly called to O’Brien’s home in Northdale, FL when it “caught fire with exploding ammunition inside.” While firefighters struggled to put out the fire, O’Brien had allegedly entered another person’s home nearby where he reportedly pushed a woman down and then hid in the backyard. Authorities were eventually able to subdue O’Brien with a taser after he came at them with a knife. After entering his home to extinguish the blaze, firefighters had to retreat when they released the situation was unsafe. Fire marshals later found “about 50 shotguns — including one with a barrel illegally sawed off to about an inch past the stock — 10 semiautomatic rifles including a couple of AK-47 variants, two Uzi-style rifles and 20 handguns” and two military-style flamethrowers in O’Brien’s home. He was eventually released on $50,000 bond.

Deana Mazurkiewicz, Paul’s wife, launched a crowdfunding campaign for Pat later that month urging fans “not jump to conclusions until the full details of what occurred come out.” Cannibal Corpse released an official statement saying that Pat “is getting the help he needs” and “is currently with family and friends and looks forward to a healthy return at some point.” Soon after, the band announced Rutan would take his place for the immediate future, including on the Decibel Magazine Tour and Slayer’s farewell run. They’d later extend their arms open for O’Brien, saying, “We love him. We want him back.” In his recorded public sighting since the night of his arrest, a fan nabbed a photo with O’Brien in a bar in Independence, KY this past February.

We will of course keep you all apprised of any developments regarding new Cannibal Corpse music and O’Brien’s involvement.