This year, Halloween isn’t the only thing to get excited about on October 31st. German brutal death metal party guys STILLBIRTH are unleashing their ninth full-length album, Survival Protocol. This newest installment brings triumphs of previous albums — slamming brutality, grooves that get you moving, smashing blast beats, filthy gutturals, slapping bass lines, and themes of apocalyptic devastation. STILLBIRTH have also decided to take a plunge into unknown waters; boundary-pushing and risk-taking result in their most dynamic release to date.
The band’s first release, Happy Stillbirth Party (2002), immediately gained them a sizeable cult following. Their sound was gritty and raw, pricking the ears of the underground scene. After a few years’ break, they released Plakative Aggression (2009) and landed their first European tour. They continued to expand their reach with the release of End Game Is Near (2011) and Global Error (2015) with their busiest tour schedule to date. The next three releases — Annihilation of Mankind (2018), Revive the Throne (2020), and Strain of Gods EP (2021) — showcase the refinement and clean production Unique Leader Records are well known for. Along with the band turning up the groove factor and crushing brutality, these albums produced music that was instantly recognizable, making them pivotal in defining the STILLBIRTH sound.
They continued their trend of sharpening and bulking out their sound with the release of Homo Deus (2023) through Distortion Music Group. This album gave audiences a clear indication that STILLBIRTH are a band that can bring a serious level of professionalism to their music and final product. With the previous trends of growth shown with each album release, the bar was set high for the next album to hit our ears — and Survival Protocol clears that bar with ease.
The album opens with “(1) Existence Erased,” setting the tone for the album’s story both lyrically and musically. Sounds of alien space are paired with gloomy riffs, creating a feeling of marching toward impending doom. There’s then an explosion of blast beats and distorted riffs, which switch to an unexpected technical-heavy segment. In this section, there’s a genre flip to a Latin-style acoustic guitar piece — something that recurs several times throughout the album. This chaotic song structure accentuates the album’s themes of blood-soaked battles against godlike creatures on alien planets, unimaginable acts of brutality like sacrificial slaughters, and the fight to rescue and restore mankind.
Technical risk-taking is heavily evident in the following track, “(2) Trapped in Darkness.” Not often used by STILLBIRTH, a high level of production is employed to create a classical music piece enhanced with alien equipment beeps, preparing listeners for the interstellar journey ahead. The lead guitar steers the ship, using minimal distortion to showcase the surgical precision of the complex arrangements. This song stands out as one of the most experimental on the album, sounding completely different from anything previously released by the band.
We’re then taken back to the old school with a chest-pounding, classic STILLBIRTH banger — “(4) Apex Predator.” The boys do what they do best here: it’s packed to the brim with catchy slides and ground-stomping breakdowns. Perfect for a live show, it would fill the mosh pit and inspire crowd participation with fist-pumping chants. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face the entire time I was listening to this one.
After all that chaos, the album gives listeners a chance to sit still and listen closely with “(5) Baptized in Blood.” It challenges the mind with genre shifts, dynamic vocals, chaotic yet organized drums, and micro-pauses that really make each fragment pop. It’ll require multiple listens to fully take in everything it has to offer. “(9) Kill to Rule” concludes the album with a sorrowful acoustic intro that shifts into an aggressive serving of distorted chug and crushing percussion. Shouted lyrics marry perfectly with the aggression, letting listeners know these words demand to be heard. The battles have been fought to save mankind — the blood was spilled to rule and survive.
On stage, STILLBIRTH are an absolute riot of fun energy, often performing wearing nothing but their own branded board shorts while they amp up the crowd with their party spirit. That being said, this is one book that shouldn’t be judged by its cover — beneath the chaotic, hilarious exterior lies serious talent and dedication to their craft. It’s a terrifying risk for a band to take a new direction with their sound, but STILLBIRTH have done an outstanding job of releasing something fresh without losing their identity. Listeners will be impressed with this new level of maturity and technical execution while still grinning ear to ear from their signature grooves and playfulness. Whether you’re a groover or a thinker, long-time or first-time listener, Survival Protocol is one to pre-save and dive into.
Track Listing:
1. Existence Erased
2. Trapped in Darkness
3. Throne of Bones
4. Apex Predator
5. Baptized in Blood
6. Cult of the Green
7. Sacrificial Slaughter
8. The Survival Protocol
9. Kill to Rule
STILLBIRTH is:
• Lukas Swiaczny – Vocals
• Martin Grupe – Drums
• Lukas Kaminski – Bass
• Leonard Thoma – Guitar
• Szymon Skiba – Guitar
Pre-Order Survival Protocol here: https://stillbirth.rpm.link/survivalprotocol