Photo by: Alex Ford
Illinois death metal foursome Molder have announced their third studio record, Catastrophic Reconfiguration, for release on November 8th through Prosthetic Records. The title track is now streaming and can be heard below. Pre-orders for the album are available now via this link. Speaking of the album and title track, vocalist/guitarist Aaren Pantke comments:
“This was the first song Carlos (Santini, lead guitar) wrote and contributed to the band. To play on the name, we wanted this to be representative of our ‘rebirth’ as a band. It perfectly encapsulates all things ‘MOLDER’, yet showcases our new freshly sharpened edge. The song, at it’s core, is really about questioning ‘where we stand’ in a modernized post-covid environment. Has the world gone too far with our own self indulgence? Did we deserve another chance? We learn towards no.”
The band employed a more DIY approach to recording, with most taking place at home with recording engineer Matt Aguilar. Pantke said of the experience:
“Everyone annihilated their tracks in a matter of hours! Which for us is unheard of. This was easily the most prepared and comfortable we’ve ever been while cutting a record, and we owe a lot of that comfort to Matt.”
Mixing and mastering was then handled by Greg Wilkinson (Autopsy) at Ear Hammer Studios. Pantke states:
“Greg was incredibly professional and a joy to work with. It was incredible working with someone so prestigious who so understood what it was we wanted to achieve. Total respect and absolute support to him!”
The artwork was helmed by Mexican oil painter Julian Felipe Mora Ibañez. On the artwork, Pantke remarked:
“The art concept for this record sort of follows the same as Engrossed in Decay, but this time rather than a death through decay, it’s a rebirth in it. We wanted it to pay homage to the works of Mental Funeral or Dark Recollections, amongst other things of course, but those two references definitely shine through on this particular piece. As far as colors go, we really wanted it to by a nice companion piece to the last record, without completely repeating it.”
The band are finishing up a trek of the U.S. this week with Goetia. The run will end with an appearance at Mortician’s Hacked Up For Barbecue III in Cleveland. Dates can be found below.
Catastrophic Reconfiguration track listing:
- “Catastrophic Reconfiguration”
- “Pulped”
- “Overdue Burial”
- “Frothing”
- “Masked in Mold”
- “Bursted Innards”
- “Rapidly Exsanguinated”
- “Corpse Copulation”
- “Brain Boil”
- “Nothing Left to Ooze”
Tour dates with Goetia:
8/04 York, PA – The Kennel
8/05 Portland, ME – Apohadion heater
8/06 Providence, RI – Boiler Room
8/07 New York City, NY – Kingsland
8/08 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
8/09 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
8/10 Cleveland, OH – Hacked Up For Barbecue III *
* = no Goetia
