Montreal deathcore stalwarts Despised Icon have announced the release of Shadow Work, their seventh studio album, due out October 31 via Nuclear Blast Records. Marking their first full-length release since 2019’s Purgatory, the album arrives after a six-year wait that frontman Alex Erian describes as intentional.
“From day one, Despised Icon has always stuck to a ‘if it’s not ready, it’s not ready’ mindset,” Erian said in a statement. “Fast forward almost six years since our last album, and not much has changed… We’re finally ready to turn the page and release what we feel is our most fine-tuned and dynamic record to date.”
The band, formed in Montreal in the early 2000s, are considered pioneers of the deathcore genre, known for their mix of brutal death metal and hardcore intensity. With Shadow Work, they continue that legacy while leaning into a more introspective and deliberately crafted sound. The album was produced by longtime members Erian and guitarist Eric Jarrin, with mixing and mastering by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy, Shadow of Intent). The cover art is by Eliran Kantor, whose credits include Hatebreed and Thy Art Is Murder.
The lead single, “Over My Dead Body,” features guest vocals from Matt Honeycutt of Kublai Khan TX and arrives alongside a moody video directed by Didier Charette. The track pulls no punches, pairing brooding atmosphere with a characteristically crushing breakdown.
Watch the video below:
While Despised Icon have remained relatively quiet on the release front, their live presence is far from dormant. Ahead of a U.S. tour supporting Sanguisugabogg, the band will play Quebec’s Festival de Musique Emergente on August 31, and wrap the year with two back-to-back hometown shows at Montreal’s Club Soda on December 6 and 7. The first date is already sold out.
Shadow Work will be available in several physical formats, including CD and a gold and black corona vinyl edition. Pre-orders are live now through Nuclear Blast.
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