BRAT Releases Storming Sophomore LP ‘Manslayer’
New Orleans Metal Band Turns Tables on Time-Honored Extreme Music Tropes
U.S. Headlining Tour Dates Announced!
Louisiana metal powerhouse, BRAT, releases its new LP, ‘Manslayer‘, today via Prosthetic Records. BRAT’s eagerly awaited sophomore album, ‘Manslayer’, was tracked at Chicago’s Bricktop Recording, produced, engineered, and mixed by Weekend Nachos’ Andy Nelson, and mastered by Brad Boatright (Deadguy, Pig Destroyer, Lathe of Heaven) with maximum weight and minimum mercy. The follow-up to BRAT’s 2024 debut, ‘Social Grace’, ‘Manslayer’ features 17 tracks of primitive death metal, garroting thrash, and swamp-drenched hardcore for devotees of the darkest reaches of the underground. Shock-inducing album artwork by Wes Benscoter (Mortician, Slayer), hammers home Manslayer’s macabre motif.
Purchase/stream BRAT’s ‘Manslayer‘ at this location.
‘Manslayer’ has met to mass media magnification in the weeks leading to its release, rewarded for its unique storyline centered around songs of women’s revenge, in which they take their power back. Lyrically, BRAT vocalist Liz Selfish was inspired by table-turning country music tracks like “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, and “Gunpowder & Lead” by Miranda Lambert, while writing for ‘Manslayer’. The LP has been saluted as “a record destined to become essential listening in the metal genre” by NPR, “a master class” by Blabbermouth, “a complete, deliberate statement” by Female Fronted Power, “the band’s most ambitious release to date” by Ghost Cult, “singularly-focused” by Knotfest, “packed with vitriol, violence, and vengeance” by Meat Mead Metal, “delightfully demented” by New Noise, and “seething” by Revolver, while Decibel proclaimed, “Everything about BRAT screams delicious absurdity”.
“There’s not a lot of these tropes in death metal,” Selfish says, referring to her revenge writing, “which I think primarily is because there’s not a lot of women in that space. I thought that was a really cool perspective and I really liked the storytelling aspect of it.” In extreme music, it’s far too often been the other way around.
Above all, ‘Manslayer’ represents a scaling up of ambition, sound, and vision for BRAT. The concepts are bigger, the music more widescreen, and it is all bound to translate into absolute mayhem live.
In sync with the September 25 release of ‘Manslayer’, BRAT will hit the road for U.S. headlining tour dates in support of the new LP. The 10-city trek kicks off on September 29 in Atlanta, GA and running through October 9 in Washington, DC with support from U.S. Bastards.
Additionally, BRAT will hold a hometown ‘Manslayer’ album release show on October 16 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The celebratory set will see BRAT become the first ever metal act to perform at the 64-year old music institution.
“We can’t wait to hit the U.S. with our new album, Manslayer, and introduce a new BRAT era and stage show,” exclaimed the band.
BRAT U.S. tour dates:
September 29 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Altar) +
September 30 – Durham, NC – Stanczyks +
October 1 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club +
October 2 – Harrisburg, PA – Capitol City Music Hall +
October 3 – Troy, NY – No Fun +
October 4 – Lowell, MA – Taffeta +
October 6 – Portland, ME – Geno’s Rock Club +
October 7 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom +
October 8 – Brooklyn, NY – Gold Sounds +
October 9 – Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong +
+ = support from U.S. Bastards
October 16 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz Museum (‘Manslayer’ Album Release show)
