German thrash titans EXUMER are pleased to drop their new video for “Blinding Skies.” The track appears on their pulverizing new full-length, “Death Mask Messiah”, out now on Metal Blade Records.
Comments co-founding vocalist Mem V. Stein,
“Driven by a relentless barrage of riffs, the song’s lyrical content highlights the consequences of political overreach and the influence of the military-industrial complex – pushing society into prolonged conflict that benefits a few at the expense of many. It’s a perspective we feel is important to highlight, given the platform we have and the current climate.“
“Death Mask Messiah” marks the band’s first new studio output in seven years and further cements EXUMER’s legacy as a dauntless thrash metal institution. A logical and compelling progression from the German legend’s three previous albums, the 11 ferocious songs, produced by Dominic Paraskevopoulos (Kreator, Caliban) and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, King Diamond), take a more brutal and direct musical approach.
Recorded from December 2025 through January 2026, “Death Mask Messiah” is EXUMER’s sixth album and fourth for Metal Blade. It’s also the first EXUMER LP recorded with the rhythm section of drummer Jerome Reil and bass player Alex Voss. “You can feel their young energy, coupled with our trademark aggression and experience,” says Mem. “The band sounds more focused and yet raw, thanks to their addition to the lineup.”
The record is inspired conceptually by US politics of the last decade, the pandemic, the use of misinformation to stir up cultural divides, and the like. Mem also mused on the 30-year anniversary of Waco, Texas and the standoff with the Branch Davidians. “David Koresh was a false prophet and wore a death mask, manipulating and leading his followers to certain death,” Mem notes. “Each song picks up an individual theme of these two strains of thought.“
With “Death Mask Messiah”, EXUMER wants to help listeners not feel alone as they struggle with difficult personal or universal times. The audience relates to the band’s lyrical messages and musical delivery. “Fans sing along, they show up and share their thoughts with us on tour,” Mem says. “I feel accomplished when I can reach just one individual and make them feel better or supported.”
As an added bonus, the record includes a guest and a cover song: Nasty Ronnie Galletti from American metal legends Nasty Savage sings on EXUMER’s version of his band’s track “Unchained Angel.” EXUMER supported the band in 1988 on their first European tour.
“Death Mask Messiah” Track-Listing:
01. Death Mask Messiah
02. Blinding Skies
03. Sin Bleeder
04. Eradication
05. Ravishing Waste
06. Allocated Savagery
07. Serpent
08. Fratricide
09. Scorcher
10. Frozen Ground
11. Unchained Angel (Nasty Savage cover feat. Nasty Ronnie)
EXUMER Live:
9/19/2026 Bosphorus Open Air Metal Fest – Istanbul, TR
10/23/2026 Nuclear Winter Festival 2026 – Hirschaid, DE
11/21/2026 Alcatraz & Pluto Festival – Deinze, BE
2/20/2027 Endzeit Festival 2027 – Essen, DE
3/20/2027 Hell’s Heroes – Houston, TX
5/27-30/2027 Maryland Deathfest – Baltimore, MD
6/26/2027 Nackenbrecher Open Air – Teuchern, DE
