Florida death metal legends OBITUARY have officially signed with Metal Blade Records for their upcoming tenth studio album, the band confirmed in a joint announcement with the label on March 7. The signing ends a successful independent run — the band released their last three albums through their own Relapse-distributed imprint — but OBITUARY stated that the resources and global reach of Metal Blade represented the right move for the ambitious scope of the new record they have planned.
Frontman John Tardy and guitarist Trevor Peres described the signing as a "homecoming of sorts," noting that Metal Blade has been home to a number of the bands they grew up listening to and that the label's roster feels philosophically aligned with OBITUARY's uncompromising approach to death metal. Metal Blade president Brian Slagel issued a statement calling the signing "a dream come true" and noting that OBITUARY represents "exactly the kind of legacy act that defines what Metal Blade is all about."
Details about the new album remain sparse at this point, though Tardy confirmed that recording sessions have been underway at Morrisound Recording in Tampa — the legendary studio where OBITUARY recorded classics including "Cause of Death" (1990) and "The End Complete" (1992) — since late January 2026. The new album is expected to deliver the same crushing down-tuned brutality and grotesque atmosphere that has been the band's trademark across their nearly four-decade career. A tentative release window of late 2026 has been mentioned, with a supporting tour to follow. OBITUARY remain one of the most important and influential acts in death metal history, and the Metal Blade partnership suggests significant label backing for the new campaign.