Ripped To Shreds, the acclaimed underground death metal band, is set to make a powerful return with their new album, Sanshi, releasing on September 27 via Relapse Records. The album promises an intense experience, delivering a relentless barrage of frenetic solos, pounding drums, and guttural vocals reminiscent of old-school death metal and grindcore, while integrating modern elements.
“We aimed to make an immediate impact with our most grim and aggressive material to date,” said the band. “‘Perverting the Funeral Rites, Stripping for the Dead’ exemplifies our new live approach with dynamic vocal and solo exchanges. The video, shot in Taiwan with an authentic Daoist priest, aligns with our narrative-driven songwriting.”
The album’s debut single, “Perverting the Funeral Rites, Stripping for the Dead,” is accompanied by a visceral music video directed by guitarist and frontman Andrew Lee. This release underscores Ripped To Shreds’ unwavering intensity and focus.
Sanshi explores themes of death and the afterlife through the lens of traditional Chinese folklore. The lead single, “Perverting the Funeral Rites, Stripping for the Dead,” draws inspiration from rare Taiwanese funeral customs involving exotic dancers performing rituals for both the living and the deceased. Another track, “Force Fed,” delves into the legend of Meng Po’s “Elixir of Forgetfulness,” which, according to myth, erases the memories of the dead before their reincarnation. “Living In Effigy” is inspired by real-life accounts of photographers documenting the funerals of isolated elderly individuals in rural China.
The cover art for Sanshi is created by Lee’s long-time collaborator, artist Guang Yang, and depicts Yan Luo Wang, the God of Hell, presiding over the souls as they face judgment in his infernal court.
