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While masters of the vile art known as death metal since the early ‘90s, Defiled aren’t relics or custodians for the old-school. The Japanese legends have shared stages with Morbid Angel, Mayhem and Cannibal Corpse, but, historically, they’ve carved their own singular path through metal’s hallowed crypts. Their upcoming ninth album continues to alter the genre in unthinkable ways. On Altered State, they deliver a dizzying blast of death metal straight from the future.
“While rooted in death metal’s formative years, the record pushes far beyond genre orthodoxy”, Metal Injection wrote upon the announcement of Altered State. Distorted Sound noted how the album is “continuing to expand on the band’s long-established blend of old-school death metal, technical thrash riffing and progressive rock compositional logic”.
Today, Defiled are releasing a music video for the third and final advanced single from Altered State. While upholding death metal’s raw speed, the title track from the band’s new album upends all conventions at every twist and turn.
“This song showcases our core identity”, Defiled guitarist and founding member Yusuke Sumita says. “The tempo shifts lean more toward progressive or fusion methodologies than traditional death metal, creating a dramatic, thrilling atmosphere that defies monotony”.
Watch the music video for “Altered State” below:
Check also the music video for “Obsession”:
Tracklist:
01. Dazed in Blindness (2:59)
02. Altered State (3:05)
03. Obsession (3:04)
04. Portal (3:39)
05. Necro-Force (2:31)
06. The Degradation (3:51)
07. Genocidal Stage (2:27)
08. Metamorphosis of Evil (3:11)
09. The Ultra Death (2:42)
10. Zombified (2:17)
11. Lunatics (3:07)
12. Prophecies (3:29)
13. Demolition (3:25)
14. Apocalyptic End (3:25)
Altered State comes out June 12, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/defiledalteredstate
Available formats
CD Digipack
12” Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12” Vinyl Gatefold (Transparent Yellowish-Green)
After hearing them pound out three albums in four years, metalheads would be forgiven for assuming Defiled had reached the highest level, that there were no horrors left for them to reveal. Altered State quickly quiets any further foolish suspicions. “Obsession” locks into a nasty groove, only for Sumita and fellow axesmith Shinichiro Hamada to shred through a labyrinthine of treacherously technical riffs.
“The music on Altered State is a combination of old-school death metal, technical-thrash riffs and the rhythmic changes of progressive rock”, Sumita says.
Defiled are still guided by the underground spirit, but “Obsession” delves deeper into their psychic perception of our warped reality. Bassist Takachika Nakajima and drummer Keisuke Hamada pound out rhythms that are truly twisted. “Obsessed by a dark vision”, Shinichiro Hamada growls. With one final headbanging twist, he and his bandmates descend into psychological hell. “Let the psychic flame burn”.
Watch the music video for 'Portal' below:
ONLINE
LINEUP
Yusuke Sumita - Guitars
Keisuke Hamada - Drums
Shinichiro Hamada - Guitars
Takachika Nakajima - Bass
BIOGRAPHY/LOGO
Defiled is a long-running Japanese death metal band formed in Tokyo in 1992. Emerging during the early wave of extreme metal in Japan, the band quickly established itself as one of the country's most relentless and uncompromising acts, drawing heavy influence from early American death metal pioneers such as Morbid Angel and Death.
After a series of demos in the early ’90s, Defiled released their debut full-length Erupted Wrath in 1999, showcasing a raw and aggressive sound rooted in complex riffing and brutal intensity. The follow-up albums Ugliness Revealed (2001) and Divination (2003) further cemented their reputation in the underground scene, both in Japan and internationally.
Following a quieter period in the mid-2000s, the band returned with renewed force through In Crisis (2011), demonstrating a more refined yet still ferocious approach. Over the next decade, Defiled continued to evolve while maintaining their old-school core, releasing critically respected albums such as Towards Inevitable Ruin (2016) and Infinite Regress (2020).
In recent years, Defiled has experienced a strong resurgence, delivering a steady stream of high-quality releases including The Highest Level (2023) and Horror Beyond Horror (2024). Their sound remains rooted in technical brutality, characterized by intricate guitar work, relentless drumming, and a dark, oppressive atmosphere.
With over three decades of activity, Defiled stands as one of Japan’s most important and enduring death metal bands, maintaining a cult status within the global underground while continuing to push their sonic extremity forward.
DISCOGRAPHY
Defeat of Sanity (EP) (1994)
Erupted Wrath (1999)
Ugliness Revealed (2001)
Divination (2003)
In Crisis (2011)
Towards Inevitable Ruin (2016)
Infinite Regress (2020)
The Highest Level (2023)
Horror Beyond Horror (2024)
Altered State (2026)
GENRE/COUNTRY
Death Metal
Japan
