Bow Down to Ulcerate’s ‘Shrines of Paralysis’

It's been three years since we last heard from Ulcerate, New Zealand's most disorienting, dizzying and damn awesome technical death metal outfit. 2013's Vermis LP coincided with the band signing to Relapse, as well as a paradigm shift for the caustic icons: Where previous material represented a direct, gory tableau, their more recent output proves far more nuanced, fleshed out by sinister, atmospheric post-rock paradigms that make the Auckland crew's longstanding comparisons to Neurosis all the more apparent. Like the Bay Area titans, Ulcerate refuse to confine their brutal conversation to a single lexicon; whether they're racing along at a downbeat gallop or going into doomy dirge mode, they know how to bring the pain.

Later this month, Ulcerate and Relapse will open up the gates to the long-awaited Shrines of Paralysis, an eight-track terror showcasing the band's newfound liminality, and of course, their face-melting riffs. There's no better way to get acclimated than with the freshly unveiled title track; a sordid symphony clocking in at over nine minutes, "Shrines of Paralysis" finds Ulcerate paying tribute to every conceivable form of aural terror, be it hair-raising tremolo solos, guttural death growls or ventures into post-metal doldrums. Needless to say, Ulcerate's house of worship is pummeling, not to mention profane — but who needs God when you've got Michael Hoggard and his mighty axe?

Ulcerate will release Shrines of Paralysis on October 28 via Relapse.

ULCERATE SHRINES OF PARALYSIS TRACK LIST
1. “Abrogation”
2. “Yield to Naught”
3. “There Are No Saviours”
4. “Shrines of Paralysis”
5. “Bow to Spite”
6. “Chasm of Fire”
7. “Extinguished Light”
8. “End the Hope”

ULCERATE on TOUR
Oct. 21 — Auckland, New Zealand @ Kings Arms
Oct. 22 — Wellington, New Zealand @ San Fran
Nov. 2 — Los Angeles, CA @ Complex
Nov. 3 — San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room
Nov. 4 — Portland, OR @ Panic Room
Nov. 5 — Seattle, WA @ Highline
Nov. 6 — Vancouver, BC @ Astoria
Nov. 8 — Oakland, CA @ The Golden Bull
Nov. 9 — San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
Nov. 10 — Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room
Nov. 11 — El Paso, TX @ Mesa Music Hall
Nov. 12 — San Antonio, TX @ Limelight
Nov. 13 — Houston, TX @ Acadia Bar
Nov. 15 — New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
Nov. 16 — Gainesville, FL @ Atlantic
Nov. 17 — Tampa, FL @ The Brass Mug
Nov. 18 — Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Nov. 19 — Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Nov. 20 — Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
Nov. 22 — Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Nov. 23 — Boston, MA @ Great Scott
Nov. 24 — Montreal, Québec @ Piranha Bar
Nov. 25 — Toronto, Ontario @ Coalition
Nov. 26 — Detroit, MI @ Corktown Tavern
Nov. 27 — Chicago, IL @ Reggies
Nov. 28 — Pittsburgh, PA @ The Smiling Moose
Nov. 29 — Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus