Premiere: Metal Trio Moral Collapse Make a ‘Precise Incision’ on Rattling Lead Song
The Bengaluru/Germany act will release their second album ‘Divine Prosthetics’ match up to their unsparing death metal-informed 2020 self-titled album
(from left to right) Arun Natarajan, Hannes Grossmann and Sudarshan Mankad of Moral Collapse. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Bengaluru/Germany-based metal act Moral Collapse return with their cutthroat extreme metal sound on the aptly titled “Precise Incisions,” part of the band’s second album Divine Prosthetics.
The six-track album – the follow-up to their standout 2020 self-titled debut album – will release via Subcontinental Records on June 2nd. In a description provided with Divine Prosthetics, Moral Collapse says the album’s concept is driven by “mythical empires being overthrown by extraordinary men in battle – NORdescendants.”
Founder, bassist, guitarist and vocalist-composer Arun Natarajan says the themes revolved around war, hierarchy and “pawns of different kind.” He speaks of drawing from animosity amidst ancient kingdoms, “minus the dragons.” Influences include Vikings, fantasy epics like Game Of Thrones and Northman and the work of Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth’s vocalist Johan Hegg.
Natarajan, along with drummer Hannes Grossmann in Germany and guitarist Sudarshan Mankad in Bengaluru, worked on the second album over two years. The bandleader calls it a more experimental work, considering it calls on avant-garde artists such as Sandesh Nagaraj, saxophonist Julius Gabriel and violinist Mia Zabelka, all of whom have released music via Natarajan’s label Subcontinental Records. “I think the result is slightly more heavier and definitely more experimental, involving the guests more in the forefront of the composition. I think all the non-metal parts are the actual parts that make this album more metal than ever,” Natarajan adds.
While “Precise Incision” and “NORDescendant” are the first two songs off Divine Prosthetics available for listening, it was sort of intentional to initially put out tracks made by just the core trio. Elsewhere, guitarist Bobby Koelble (from American band Death) rips out a solo on the title track, while Hyderabad thrash/death band Godless’ guitarist Moiz Mustafa adds a solo to “Calamitous.” All in all, as heard on “Precise Incision,” the technical death metal, groove and old-school blend of Moral Collapse is still very much present. Natarajan adds, “Some might find the final track [“Divine Prosthetics II”] of great interest or they might not ever comprehend it and curse us. Only time will tell, but in any case, I think we touched new ground on this one.”
With a few more months until the full album is unleashed, Moral Collapse are planning more playthrough videos and are trying to kick off performances. Natarajan says, “We are trying to get a stable live lineup going in a couple of months in support of this new release.”
Watch the video for “Precise Incision” below. Pre-order ‘Divine Prosthetics’ here.
Moral Collapse — Divine Prosthetics tracklist
- “Disintegration” (with Sandesh Nagaraj)
- “Precise Incision” (with Sudarshan Mankad)
- “Calamitous” (with Moiz Mustafa)
- “NORDescandant” (feat. Mia Zabelka)
- “Divine Prosthetics I” (with Bobby Koelble)
- “Divine Prosthetics II” (feat. Julius Gabriel & Mia Zabelka)
