Are you ready for total destruction?! Stillbirth hit like a sky-high, all-devouring tsunami, mercilessly crushing ears and minds from the very first exposure to their brutal sound. The band are based in Hagen, Germany, and were founded in 1999 by former guitarist and now vocalist Lukas Swiaczny. Stillbirth play their very own eclectic blend of death metal, grindcore, deathcore, and slamming death metal which they call “Brutal Surf Death Metal.”
“Survival Protocol is our ninth full-length album and the fifth concept album telling the story of an unknown hero surviving a nuclear apocalypse,” the band say. “The story began on the album Annihilation of Mankind and reaches its conclusion on Survival Protocol. It picks up where Homo Deus left off: The true creator descends from the skies, and the epic battle for planetary dominance begins. Humanity is nearly wiped out, with a handful of survivors managing to escape into space. After a long journey, they discover a habitable planet and begin to colonize it. The events of this journey are told across the tracks of Survival Protocol.
Track 1: Existence Erased
The album kicks off with “Existence Erased,” plunging listeners straight into a dystopian world. A disturbing atmosphere builds through pounding bass and synths in the intro, laying the groundwork for the band to erupt into full motion. The song features intricate shifts between acoustic segments, blast beats, and guitar solos, all laced with dynamic tempo changes that bring both variety and a strong groove. Stylistically, it lies somewhere between brutal death metal, groove, slam, and surf lounge music.
The lyrics pick up right where Homo Deus left off: Humanity teeters on the edge of extinction. The true creator, an advanced alien species, returns to end the human experiment and save the planet from complete destruction. An epic fight nears its end as the last survivors hijack alien spaceships to flee the planet. The lyrics capture the desperate struggle for a spot on these vessels and the chaos of escape.
For songwriter Lukas Swiaczny, it was important to pack everything the album represents into this first track. After listening, the audience knows to expect a wild ride full of melodic interruptions—but how wild things truly get will become clear only as the next songs hit.
Track 2: Trapped in Darkness
“Trapped in Darkness” transports listeners into the infinite vastness of space. Beginning with a melodic intro, it quickly escalates into a blastbeat assault layered with rich melody. The song oscillates between furious speed and groovy, melodic interludes, giving a sense of traveling through the cosmos. Harsh vocals amplify the heaviness, while the closing guitar solo opens up an entirely new sonic dimension. Stylistically, it blends technical death metal, deathcore, and melodic death metal.
The lyrics describe the survivors’ aimless drift through space after fleeing Earth. Time stretches endlessly, and the people aboard grow increasingly savage. With their fuel depleted and their ships disabled, they’re pulled by a mysterious gravitational force—like a whirlpool—toward what appears to be a habitable planet. The landing, however, will not be gentle.
Originally intended as track seven, “Trapped in Darkness” demanded the second spot once it was finished. It balances brutality with a catchy refrain that embeds itself in the listener’s mind.
Track 3: Throne of Bones
“Throne of Bones” sees the triumphant return of Stillbirth’s infamous cowbell—an instrument that unleashes the wildest of bulls. Opening with drums underscored by the cowbell, the groove that follows will make every neck sweat. A brutal blastbeat leads into even more crushing groove, recalling the raw energy of Stillbirth’s earlier work. It’s relentless, made for headbanging, and ends with a surprise twist: a groovy blues outro. Stylistically, it’s one of the album’s most brutal tracks, fusing brutal death metal, slam, stoner, and blues rock.
The starved barbarian survivors manage to land on the new planet. Though their ships are wrecked, the planet offers all they need to survive. They pour out of their vessels and begin slaughtering the native creatures. With every alien killed, they build the titular throne of bones, claiming the new territory as their own.
Here, Lukas aimed to channel the old Stillbirth brutality and songwriting style. The fast blasts and grooves reflect the survivors’ ruthless nature. The addition of cowbell makes the track over-the-top brutal—listeners won’t know whether to laugh or smash their furniture.
Track 4: Apex Predator
“Apex Predator” follows an uncommon structure for Stillbirth, incorporating clear verses and choruses. Instrumentally, it’s relentless—blasting through speakers with pure force. The groove-heavy chorus offers momentary reprieve, inviting listeners to nod along before the final riff brings in the groove hammer one last time. The track sits in the realm of technical and melodic death metal.
Lyrically, it tells of a superior apex predator who begins hunting the barbarian survivors as trophies. Until now, the fauna and flora of the alien world posed little threat, lulling the settlers into complacency. But they weren’t prepared for this super-powered hunter. One by one, they fall—until the tide turns, and the hunted become hunters.
Fast and uncompromising, “Apex Predator” was one of the first tracks written for the album and sets the tone for its more experimental second half.
Track 5: Baptized in Blood
Imagine you’re on a beach—the wind in your hair, waves crashing in the background—and then “Baptized in Blood” begins with a gentle acoustic intro. The peaceful moment is abruptly interrupted by distorted riffs and a barrage of 320 BPM drumming leading into an epic guitar solo and an immediate chorus. Melodic guitar lines contrast sharply with the savage vocals until they’re once again aligned, transitioning into a slam-heavy section. After brutal blast beats pummel the listener, an acoustic part returns to break the chaos before the chorus is repeated with crushing intensity. Stylistically, it blends death metal, melodic death, slam, lounge music, and deathcore.
The lyrics depict an epic clash with titanic, godlike creatures inhabiting the new world. After surviving the apex predator, the humans now face another seemingly invincible foe. Their primitive weapons prove useless, but driven by past victories, they don’t back down. It’s David vs. Goliath on an alien planet.
“Baptized in Blood” marks a bold new direction for the band. It’s the first time they’ve captured their live surf vibe in a studio recording. Released as the first single, it’s their biggest stylistic leap yet—still true to the Stillbirth formula, but designed to be a hymn that demands repeat plays.
Track 6: Cult of the Green
Stillbirth’s new slam bulldozer is here. “Cult of the Green” is a return to roots. The track begins with a slow, brutal slam, aiming only to get slower. A blast beat follows, stirring up circle pit energy, which then explodes into groove-heavy madness. After all synapses have fired, an acoustic slam interlude interrupts the chaos—only to be shattered by a seismic breakdown. Stylistically, it’s a mix of slam and brutal death metal.
The settlers have faced many external dangers—but weren’t prepared for their own vices. Addicted to alien substances, they begin experimenting with the planet’s strange flora. “The Cult of the Green” is born, worshiping the hallucinogenic herbs that leave them deeply addicted. Over time, the plants become sacred.
This track contrasts sharply with “Baptized in Blood.” A direct punch in the face, it proves you only need three minutes to deliver a message—the message of slam. It’s a homage to all fans who love Stillbirth’s rawest side.
Track 7: Sacrificial Slaughter
Dark, brutal, and disturbing,”Sacrificial Slaughter” is faster, more merciless, and more mystic than anything before it. It opens with a blast beat, quickly drops into a crushing tempo, and alternates verse and chorus with fast breaks. Toward the end, an acoustic guitar calms the heated mood. A bleak melody gradually turns hopeful, leading into a final groove section that gives the song a unique twist. Stylistically, it mixes death metal, deathcore, and acoustic guitar.
Having spent time on the new planet, some settlers have formed villages. One such village doesn’t take survival for granted and begins sacrificing people to alien gods. Through dark rituals, they try to appease the giants and other beasts. The suffering of the victims is seen as necessary to survive—or so they believe.
This was the final track written for “Survival Protocol,” and Lukas wanted it to stand apart from the rest. Its gloomy atmosphere, melodic chorus, and acoustic section make it one of the album’s most diverse pieces.
Track 8: The Survival Protocol
The title track does exactly what it’s supposed to—punch the listener in the face. A fast guitar riff ignites the track at full throttle. One groove part follows the next, only interrupted by a halftime breakdown that’ll drag your facial expression straight down. Rapid-fire vocal lines underline the song’s sheer brutality. A fusion of hardcore and death metal, this one’s an unstoppable train.
A mysterious fungus spreads through the settlers’ colonies, taking over human bodies and minds. Guided by this alien fungus, the infected fall into madness and pain. But one group appears immune—the Cult of the Green. Through intense study, they’ve discovered a green herb that repels the infection.
This is a party track—designed to keep heads banging from start to finish. Fast breaks and brief pauses only add to its intensity. The hardcore influence gives the song a special groove that stands apart from the rest of the album.
Track 9: Kill to Rule
The final song on “Survival Protocol” is a ballad—at least, a Stillbirth-style ballad. It begins with a relaxed acoustic part that leads into a sludgy stoner metal section. Guitars and drums move slowly and groovily—evoking images of cruising a Mustang down Route 66. A massive breakdown introduces the slam hammer, only to be followed by a return to the stoner vibe. In a final epic finish, dueling guitar solos battle for dominance. Stylistically, it’s a mix of stoner and slam death metal.
As always, peace doesn’t last. The settlers rally one last time, slaughtering anything that might pose a future threat. The final march for domination begins. Scarred from countless battles, they won’t stop until their ultimate mission—laid out in the Survival Protocol—is complete.
For Stillbirth, the closing track always has to be special. “Kill to Rule” provides an epic conclusion draped in stoner metal vibes. Maybe one day, there’ll be a genre called stoner death metal.
“Survival Protocol” is a odyssey through annihilation, survival, and the untamed chaos of rebirth. The album showcases Stillbirth’s ability to combine brutality with innovation. We are merging old-school slam and death metal roots with experimental twists, melodic depth, and even moments of total calm. Across nine tracks, the we push our signature sound into bold new territories without losing the relentless aggression our fans expect.
The strongest moments lie in the contrast. Between groove and blast beats, beauty and filth, melody and chaos. Songs like “Baptized in Blood” and “Kill to Rule” stand out as genre-blurring highlights, while tracks like “Cult of the Green” and “The Survival Protocol” are unapologetic moshing anthems. If there’s a weakness, it may lie in the overwhelming density, but for fans of extreme music, that’s not a flaw; it’s a feature.
This album is essential listening for fans of bands like Aborted, Ingested, Cattle Decapitation and Dying Fetus, but also for those open to genre fusion and concept-driven death metal. If you’re new to Stillbirth, we recommend also checking out Revive the Throne and Homo Deus to fully grasp the evolution leading to this new brutal release.
The post Track-by-Track: Stillbirth – “Survival Protocal” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.