German brutal-surf-death-party metal band STILLBIRTH spin a tale of ferocity and despair with their latest single, "Trapped In Darkness", off of their new concept album, Survival Protocol. Survival Protocol is out now via rising metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. The album is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed Homo Deus, which was released in 2023.
Though "Trapped In Darkness" opens with an ominous, melodic intro, the music quickly escalates into a blast beat-laden assault. Oscillating between ferocious riffs and groovy, melodic interludes, the song carries the listener along on an epic journey through the cosmos. Guttural harsh vocals drive home a sense of urgency, while a tastefully-placed guitar solo lends beauty to the otherwise bleak and apocalyptic soundscape.
Survival Protocol is a concept album that tells the story of an unknown hero surviving a nuclear apocalypse. The narrative began on the album Annihilation of Mankind and now reaches its conclusion on Survival Protocol. It picks up where Homo Deus left off: the true creator descends from the skies, and the epic battle for planetary dominance begins. Humanity is nearly wiped out, with a handful of survivors managing to escape into space. After a long journey, they discover a habitable planet and begin to colonize it. The events of this journey are told across the tracks of Survival Protocol.
Watch the video for "Trapped In Darkness" Below.
Order Survival Protocol HERE: https://stillbirth.rpm.link/survivalprotocol
STILLBIRTH is a slamming death metal force from Hagen, Germany, known for their chaotic live shows, unrelenting brutality, and wild blend of Death Metal, Grindcore, Deathcore, and Slam. Since 1999, the band has been obliterating venues and festivals worldwide with an extreme sound fueled by filthy grooves, blast beats, and a tongue-in-cheek attitude that’s equal parts destruction and party.
Founded by guitarist-turned-vocalist Lukas Swiaczny, STILLBIRTH quickly gained a cult following with their 2002 debut Happy Stillbirth Party. After a short hiatus from 2003 to 2005, the band came roaring back, contributing to international split releases and building a reputation across Europe. Their sophomore effort, Plakative Aggressionen (2009), led to their first Eastern European tour and set the tone for a relentless schedule of releases and performances.
By 2011, Endgame Is Near expanded their reach, earning them a spot on their first U.S. tour. STILLBIRTH's 2015 album Global Error marked a high point, with back-to-back tours across the U.S. and Europe. Their signing to Unique Leader Records saw them level up again with Annihilation of Mankind (2018), landing major festival appearances and a tour through Asia.
In 2019, they revisited their roots with Back to the Stoned Age, re-recording fan favorites with updated production and guest vocals. The follow-up, Revive the Throne (2020), doubled down on brutality with dual basses, massive grooves, and razor-sharp production—setting a new bar for heaviness in their discography.
Tragedy struck in 2021 with the passing of bassist and engineer Dominik “Pumpa” Koenig. His legacy lives on in the band’s music and spirit. After signing to Distortion Music Group in 2022, STILLBIRTH dropped Homo Deus in 2023, toured Europe with KATAKLYSM and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, and crushed stages at Summer Breeze, Party.San, and Tolminator.
Now, STILLBIRTH is poised to unleash their ninth full-length, Survival Protocol, on October 31st, a dystopian concept album promising their most refined yet devastating sound to date.
STILLBIRTH is a party at the edge of the apocalypse. Total madness guaranteed!
STILLBIRTH IS:
Lukas Swiaczny – Vocals
Martin Grupe – Drums
Lukas Kaminski – Bass
Leonard Thoma – Guitar
Szymon Skiba – Guitar