SIX FEET UNDER have announced "Next To Die," their 15th studio album, set for release on April 24 via Metal Blade Records. The death metal veterans are also hitting the road for a North American summer tour with Canadian extreme metal titans KATAKLYSM, running from July 8 in Detroit through August 11 in Chicago.
The album features 12 tracks and is structured as a deliberate two-sided experience. Guitarist Jack Owen explained the creative process: "It started as death metal songs with speed and aggression." From there, vocalist Chris Barnes had what Owen called a "brilliant idea" — keep half the album rooted in pure death metal ferocity while adding groovier songs reminiscent of SIX FEET UNDER's earlier, more groove-oriented material.
The result is an album that bridges two eras of the band's sound. The first half delivers relentless death metal aggression, while the second half pulls from the catchy, headbanging style that defined albums like "Warpath" and "Maximum Violence." For longtime fans who have debated which era of the band they prefer, "Next To Die" aims to satisfy both camps.
The first single, "Unmistakable Smell of Death," is already streaming with an accompanying lyric video. The track leans into the heavier side of the equation, offering a punishing glimpse of what the album has in store.
SIX FEET UNDER have been a polarizing but enduring force in death metal since their formation in 1993 by Barnes after his departure from CANNIBAL CORPSE. Love them or hate them, 15 albums deep and still touring aggressively, the band's commitment to their craft is undeniable. The summer tour with KATAKLYSM promises to be a formidable double bill for fans of extreme metal.