REDIVIDER, a death metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, presents their debut full-length album Sounds of Malice, a concentrated expression of aggression, narrative depth, and old school brutality fused with modern execution. Formed in early 2021 by Jacob Spencer and Paul Nunavath, REDIVIDER was built with a singular intent: to write crushing death metal rooted in the atmosphere of the 1990s Florida scene while expanding on those foundations with contemporary precision and weight. Joined by Jake Atha and Alexander Farrington, the band forged their identity through live performance and focused songwriting, culminating in an album that reflects both their influences and their evolution.
Sounds of Malice opens with "Quartered and Devoured", a violent and immediate introduction to the record. The track pulls from Dungeons & Dragons mythology, portraying a ritualistic execution of a savage race by divine decree. The music is relentless and hook-laden, prioritizing tension, groove, and a sense of fury that refuses to let up. This track was chosen to lead the album for its visceral energy and capacity to immediately strike the listener.
The title track "Sounds of Malice" follows, drawing from a character created by Spencer for a campaign he never got to play. Told from the perspective of an evil wizard addicted to a substance called Liquid Pain, the song balances morbid fantasy with deeply structured guitar work. The dual solos from Nunavath are a highlight, combining melodic phrasing with unhinged dissonance. It is both personal and grotesque, a reflection of the band’s creative range.
"Shackled to Existence" is the album’s longest and most introspective piece. Originating from an idea by original drummer Tyler Lewis, it deals with the inevitability of death and the emptiness of existence. The track journeys through dynamic shifts, intricate harmonies, and a guitar solo that mirrors the emotional despair embedded in the lyrics. It showcases the band's ability to slow the pace without sacrificing impact.
In "Apocalyptic Waste", REDIVIDER offers their take on global ruin, inspired by the Book of Elder Evils from D&D lore. The song is structured to depict an unfolding disaster, beginning with chaos and closing in desolation. The drumming and riffing here lean into the modern death metal playbook while staying grounded in groove, reflecting both destruction and aftermath.
"Fratricide" continues the mythological thread, drawing inspiration from the Elder Scrolls universe. It recounts a cosmic battle between divine brothers over a goddess, resulting in the violent birth of existence itself. The music reflects that chaos through shifting rhythms and dissonant layers while still delivering heavy, crushing sections that ground the narrative in sonic weight.
"Bask in the Rot" moves into monster territory, a tribute to the Gelatinous Cube reimagined as a sentient mass of sewage and death. The band wrote the instrumental parts around Spencer’s vocal rhythm, resulting in a track that drags and smothers, matching the grotesque nature of the subject matter. Influenced by "Where the Slime Lives", it is slow, grinding, and impossible to ignore.
The album concludes with "Left to Rot", a hymn of devotion from the undead to Orcus, Lord of the Undead. One of the earliest songs written by the band, it encapsulates the themes present throughout the record. The arrangement grows from a heavy groove into a dramatic finale that resolves the tension built across the album. It is an appropriate end for a record that began with violent resistance to the gods and closes with a prayer for apocalyptic release.
Recorded at Round Table Recording Company and Michael Kent O’Bryan Studio, mixed by guitarist Paul Nunavath and mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound, Sounds of Malice captures REDIVIDER's live energy and commitment to authentic performance. The band wrote these songs with the stage in mind, crafting moments of impact, tension, and catharsis. Every song exists to be felt physically, with riffs meant to be remembered and choruses meant to incite chaos.
Though Sounds of Malice does not follow a strict concept, its cohesion comes from atmosphere and intention. From the first note to the last, REDIVIDER seeks to overwhelm the listener with stories of death, decay, addiction, ritual, and myth. The band channels their influences, from CANNIBAL CORPSE and MORBID ANGEL to DEATH and GORGUTS, not as a template, but as a foundation to build upon. This album is not a tribute. It is a statement of purpose. REDIVIDER has crafted a debut that is punishing, articulate, and unflinchingly true to the spirit of death metal.
About REDIVIDER:
REDIVIDER is a death metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 2021 by vocalist Jacob Spencer and guitarist Paul Nunavath. Joined by guitarist Jake Atha and bassist Alexander Farrington, the band draws influence from the early Florida death metal scene and bands like CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, DEATH, and GORGUTS. With a sound rooted in old school brutality and layered with modern aggression, REDIVIDER combines guttural vocals, dissonant riffs, and relentless groove to create music that is both violent and immersive.
The band made their live debut in 2022 and quickly gained recognition in the underground scene, sharing stages with acts such as CREEPING DEATH, CRYPTA, MASACRE, COGNITIVE, and SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY. Their debut album Sounds of Malice is a conceptually rich, sonically punishing record that blends fantasy-driven storytelling with crushing heaviness. Written with live performance in mind, REDIVIDER’s music thrives on tension, rhythm, and unapologetic intensity, death metal built to be felt as much as heard.
REDIVIDER Lineup:
Jacob Spencer – Vocals
Paul Nunavath – Guitar
Jake Atha – Guitar
Alexander Farrington – Bass
Mike Hargrave – Drums (live)
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