Guilt Trip

The ground quakes, the surface fractures, and a colossal force rises from the abyss: GATES TO HELL have returned to deliver their undeniable truth—Death Comes to All. Freshly signed to Nuclear Blast Records, the Louisville natives charge onto the heavy music scene with their second full-length release. Blurring the lines between death metal, hardcore, and every brutal sound in between, GATES TO HELL bring a monstrous energy to the studio and an unmatched ferocity to their live performances. From local shows bolstered by LBD Fest and the thriving Louisville music scene to dominating larger stages, the band has evolved into a rising juggernaut of sonic destruction.

“GATES TO HELL is an amalgamation of the things we’re passionate about,” explains vocalist Ryan Storey. “Over time, touring and creating together, your influences, interests, and hobbies start to fuse into something unique.” Drawing inspiration from the violence and gore of classic horror, the band caters to fans of the grotesque and barbaric. Their album artwork—crafted by WYRMWALK—offers a glimpse into the terror within, featuring a haunting depiction of a caged, rotting grave in eerie purples and blues. This imagery is a fitting representation of the blood-soaked dread and suffocating darkness that Death Comes to All unleashes.

Fueled by youthful ambition and a sharp creative focus, the band entered the New Jersey branch of Graphic Nature Audio to work with Randy LeBoeuf, ensuring the recording process was both seamless and impactful. “It was awesome working with someone who had our back and helped us refine the album into its best possible version,” Storey says. The result is a record that balances raw intensity with a sharpened sense of precision, elevating their sound to new heights.

With Death Comes to All, GATES TO HELL solidify their place in modern heavy music’s pantheon. “This album is a big step up for us,” says Storey. “We really took the time to dig into every song, making adjustments and adding small details.” Standout moments on the album include “Next to Bleed,” a track that showcases the band’s growth as songwriters. Opening with guitarist Seth Lewis, the song builds into a brutal crescendo, showcasing a refined maturity while retaining their signature aggression. The accompanying music video features a striking visual concept: the band encircling a tilting table, where a tortured figure lies bleeding out—a dark, visceral representation of the track’s themes.

“Crazed Killer” is another blistering highlight, drawing on the album’s graveyard imagery. Fast-paced and drum-led, the track delivers a relentless, stabbing energy akin to an auditory murder spree. Its music video reflects the chaos, capturing a packed performance with over 100 people moshing, only for them to start mysteriously disappearing one by one. The result is as claustrophobic and intense as the song itself, with a sinister yet infectious rhythm at its core.

For fans of Silent Hill, “21 Sacraments” will be a clear favorite. Inspired by the game’s eerie storyline, the track is one of the album’s hardest-hitting, most mosh-inducing songs. Storey describes it simply: “That song is hard. It’s definitely one of the most intense tracks on the record.” A music video tied to the game’s iconic visuals is also in the works, promising to thrill both gamers and fans alike.

Looking ahead to 2025, GATES TO HELL are preparing to storm the road and spread their ferocious energy to as many new audiences as possible. With Nuclear Blast Records fueling their fire, they’re ready to leave concertgoers in the wake of their annihilation. Death Comes to All, but GATES TO HELL will make sure you feel it first.

Indianapolis-based Mauled is setting fire to the modern day deathcore rulebook with their latest EP, When Your Eyes Are Shut (WYEAS), releasing in 2026. “This is our take on the early days of deathcore,” explained vocalist Abe Kirkpatrick. “We don’t like what the genre’s become. The cookie-cutter breakdowns, only playing power chords on the first fret…nobody in this band likes the current state of deathcore.”

The five-piece — Kirkpatrick, guitarists Chance York and Eli Harrell, bassist DJ Baker and drummer Tyler Powers — started playing shows during 2022. A few months later, they were selling out their hometown venues. “It was just crazy,” said Kirkpatrick. “There were just 300 kids absolutely murdering each other 15 minutes down the street from our house. It was awesome.”

WYEAS builds on that success with six new tracks, complete with back-bending breakdowns, agonizing, torturous screams and frenetic drumming, reminiscent of the unique sounds trademarked by bands like Whitechapel and Suicide Silence.

He knows the band’s sound isn’t what outsiders to the scene may be interested in. But it’s the band’s lyrics that keep the haters and naysayers coming back for more. “Sure, the majority of our songs are about killing people,” he admitted. “But we’ve all gone through a lot. We’ve lost friends along the way and we take inspiration from that. Our songs all focus on toxic relationships and heartbreak in some way. We want to show the world how we deal with them.”

That heartache ripples throughout “Drop Dead Gorgeous”, with Kirkpatrick’s razor-wire vocals belting out lyrics like “Why do I have to turn the page on a book that I never wanted to read?” Tracks like “Mouthful of Glass” and “TheLastThingYouSee” build on those sentiments by cranking the violence up as high as possible.

“Mouthful of Glass is about torturing someone that’s been doing you wrong for years and deserves what’s coming to them,” explains Kirkpatrick. “TheLastThingYouSee has one of my favorite lyrics on the whole record: ‘Did you get what you wanted?’. Saying that to someone that absolutely ruined your life right before you ruin theirs just sounds fucking awesome.”

While that pain and heartache are central themes in their music, Kirkpatrick says the community they’re from and the support system of friends and family are what keep Mauled running. “Everyone has always been very into what we’re doing as Mauled,” said Kirkpatrick. “They come to our shows, they like getting to see what we do.”

Shows that he says were critical in his own upbringing. “I started going to shows as soon as I could,” he said. “Shows are special. And whether it’s new music or cool merch or even just a crazy lineup, there’s always a reason to go see bands play live. We try to give everyone that chance and we get to do that with Mauled.”

You can find out more about Mauled’s upcoming tour dates below. But Kirkpatrick does have some advice for anyone planning to come to any shows in the future. “You should probably stand in the back,” he said. “I’d hate to see anything bad happen to you.”