Gatecreeper, the Arizona-based death metal band, is set to release their third full-length album titled “Dark Superstition.” The album marks their debut with Nuclear Blast and promises a more concise, melodic, and memorable sound than previous works. Vocalist Chase H. Mason commented on the evolution of their music: “We refined the song structures. We’re getting better at what we do.”
The band was formed in 2013 and quickly established themselves in the death metal scene with their self-titled EP in 2014. They later released “Sonoran Depravation” in 2016 and “An Unexpected Reality” in 2021. Their style pays homage to their desert origins while solidifying their presence in the genre.
Their 2019 album “Deserted” was well-received, landing at number three on Decibel magazine’s year-end top 40 list. Post-pandemic, Gatecreeper headlined tours globally under their own banner.
Mason draws parallels between “Dark Superstition” and influential albums by bands like Entombed and Dismember. The latter’s drummer Fred Estby collaborated with Gatecreeper during pre-production for this album. One track that stands out is “Masterpiece of Chaos,” described by Mason as “a nightmarish vision of a broken mirror with an ominous creature that lives within the fragmented web of glass.”
Thematically, the album explores supernatural themes such as divination and fear of the unknown, drawing inspiration from Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. Songs like “Flesh Habit” and lead single “The Black Curtain” incorporate influences from UK goth bands while maintaining Gatecreeper’s signature sound.
Recorded at God City Studios in Salem, Massachusetts with Kurt Ballou from Converge handling production duties, “Dark Superstition” showcases Gatecreeper’s growth and commitment to evolving within the death metal genre. As Mason puts it: “There’s a lot of bands in our lane, but we’re trying to create our own.”
