MENTAL CRUELTY unleash their hard-hitting new single “HELMHEIM”, featuring David Simonich from Signs of the Swarm. The track expands the band’s journey from crushing deathcore roots into darker, melodic and blackened territories, while still delivering the sheer brutality fans expect. Starting tomorrow, the band will hit the road for their North American tour. Don’t miss it – watch the official video and stream “HELHEIM” now on all platforms.

MENTAL CRUELTY about the new single: “‘HELHEIM’ is another stepping stone on our way from slamming deathcore to more melodic, blackened metal. ‘ZWIELICHT’ was our way to transition from deathcore to a sound focused on our blackened side, as well as traditionally ‘metal’ influences and even folk. This song dips another toe on there, with the inclusion of a stringed Scandinavian instrument called talharpa. The boys actually needed to learn that new instrument to record in the studio! Of course we wanted to keep some deathcore in there, so for the breakdown we invited our friend David Simonich of Signs of the Swarm, with whom we start a crushing North America tour tomorrow. It’s appropriately brutal for a song written about the realm for Vikings who didn’t quite make it to Valhalla, an afterlife for the disgraced.”

After wrapping up a highly successful European run alongside Cradle of Filth and Butcher Babies in late 2024, MENTAL CRUELTY are set to return to the road in 2025 and 2026 with extensive US and EU tours!

On October 2nd, the band will embarked on a massive North American tour together with Signs of The Swarm, ten56., Carcosa and Face Yourself, hitting 28 major cities across the United States and Canada throughout October and November, with 3 sell outs before day 1 and many more imminent with low ticket warnings. In spring 2026, the band will continue their relentless live assault in Europe, joining forces with Kanonenfieber for a run that takes them through Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany and more.

US Tour Dates 2025 (w/ Signs of The Swarm, ten56., Carcosa, Face Yourself), remaining shows:

10/15 Portland, OR @ Dante’s
10/16 Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
10/17 Fresno, CA @ Full Circle Brewery
10/18 Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
10/19 Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater
10/21 Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
10/22 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
10/23 Little Rock, AR @ Revolution Music Room
10/24 Nashville, TN @ EXIT/IN
10/25 Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage (The Loft)
10/26 Orlando, FL @ Conduit – Sold Out
10/28 Greenville, SC @ The Radio Room
10/29 Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819
10/30 Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
10/31 Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving
11/1 Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows
11/2 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

EU Tour 2026 (w/ Kanonenfieber):

07.03.26 – Copenhagen (Amager Bio)
08.03.26 – Stockholm (Fållan)
10.03.26 – Warsaw (Progresja)
11.03.26 – Ostrava (Club Garage)
12.03.26 – Graz (Orpheum)
14.03.26 – Arbon (Presswerk)
15.03.26 – Solothurn (Kulturfabrik Kofmehl)
16.03.26 – Stuttgart (LKA-Longhorn) – SOLD OUT
18.03.26 – Antwerp (Trix)
19.03.26 – Tilburg (013 Poppodium)
20.03.26 – Cologne (Carlswerk Victoria) – SOLD OUT
21.03.26 – Berlin (Huxleys Neue Welt) – SOLD OUT
22.03.26 – Wiesbaden (Schlachthof)
23.03.26 – Dresden (Alter Schlachthof)
24.03.26 – Hamburg (Inselpark Arena)
27.03.26 – Bamberg (Brose-Arena)

MENTAL CRUELTY line up:
Lukas Nicolai – Vocals
Nahuel Lozano – Guitars
Marvin Kessler – Guitars
Viktor Dick – Bass
Jonathan Koltun – Drums

MENTAL CRUELTY online: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook |Website

From the heart of darkness, MENTAL CRUELTY finally unleash ZWIELICHT (DELUXE EDITION)! Bask in the original inferno, two reimagined offerings, and the cold, unholy instrumentals.

Featuring 22 tracks, including all the original, instrumentals and beautifully reimagined orchestral and piano versions, ZWIELICHT (DELUXE EDITION),is the perfect addition fans have been waiting for.

Order the album at https://mentalcruelty.lnk.to/ZwielichtNe

Stream the Deluxe Edition here: https://MentalCruelty.lnk.to/ZwielichtDeluxeNe

MENTAL CRUELTY have released a majestic new visual offering for the opening tracks “Midtvinter” and “Obsessis a Daemonio” from their latest album, Zwielicht.

MENTAL CRUELTY comments on “Obsessis a Daemonio”: Obsessis a Daemonio is a song inspired by medieval age manuscripts describing exorcisms. Watch out to not get haunted yourself after watching the video. It’s a story of a spiritual battle between a priest and a demon of his past. An epic fight of the light vs. the dark – who will triumph in the end? Decide by yourself! Get ready for a bombastic performance in an original antique monastery library setting!

Zwielicht, the fourth full-length album from MENTAL CRUELTY, is now available via Century Media Records.

Dive into a dark and intense world where Hell’s power reigns supreme. Stream “Obsessis a Daemonio” and Zwielicht now HERE; the new and epic music video (produced by Aurora Motion Pictures) can be watched below.

Order Zwielicht here: https://mentalcruelty.lnk.to/Zwielicht
 
MENTAL CRUELTY comments on the album release: “Let us embrace a new era of darkness by bringing the “black” into blackened heavy music. Join us on the way down to infernal gates of hell to be rebirthed back to life. The album contains the most mind-bending variety of different heavy musical influences and sounds. Epic symphonic orchestras accompanied by slam breakdowns; this will have it all. Inspired from metaphors written by nature, death, and inner demons.
 
We can´t put into words the level of excitement we feel by releasing this album to you. We hope you feel the same way! Thank you for being with us and stay tuned for even more news!”

Zwielicht Tracklist:

1. Midtvinter
2. Obsessis a Daemonio
3. Forgotten Kings
4. Pest
5. Nordlys
6. Mortal Shells
7. Zwielicht
8. Symphony of a Dying Star
9. The Arrogance of Agony
10. A Tale of Salt and Light

Order Zwielicht now at: https://mentalcruelty.lnk.to/Zwielicht

Across four releases, beginning with 2016’s Pereat Mundus EP, MENTAL CRUELTY has woven together a violent tapestry of black metal, death metal, deathcore, and a madness of their very own. With 2021’s landmark LP, A Hill To Die Upon (Unique Leader), the German quintet not only set a new standard for themselves, but also the genre as a whole.
 
Rising from the ashes of personal and professional chaos, MENTAL CRUELTY spent the first half of 2021 seeking out a voice to continue to cement them as an uncompromising force in the German metal scene. After locking in Lukas, the band (rounded out by guitarists Nahuel Lozano and Marvin Kessler, bassist Viktor Dick and drummer Danny Straßer) reemerged bloodied but unbowed, ready to continue on their path to becoming an international force.

Armed with new vocalist Lukas Nicolai, MENTAL CRUELTY usher in a new epoch of unlight and grim determination that’s at the heart of their upcoming album, Zwielicht (translated in English as “Twilight”). Once again working with producer and mixer Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Ov Sulfur, Signs of the Swarm The Browning), they’ve pushed their sound to new blacker intensities forged in emotional riffing, heavy “back to the roots” breakdowns, and epic orchestral arrangements that surpass the already elite standards that have become synonymous with their name.
 
Zwielicht has come. MENTAL CRUELTY’s reign of darkness has begun!

Watch the previously released videos below:

“Zwielicht/Symphony of a Dying Star”: https://youtu.be/rpxyHRIk5vM
“Forgotten Kings”: https://youtu.be/WXJwYl6L73w
“Nordlys”: https://youtu.be/nkt6e3bEDqc

Catch MENTAL CRUELTY on their first shows this year:

25.-29.07.23 Tolminator Metal Fest
04.08.23 Köln – Live Music Hall**
05.08.23 Triple 6 Festival
19.08.23 Karlsruhe – Substage*
07.10.23 Aarau – Kiff

**w/ Heaven Shall Burn, Any Given Day and The Acacia Strain
*w/ Heaven Shall Burn and Any Given Day

MENTAL CRUELTY line-up:
Lukas Nicolai – Vocals
Nahuel Lozano – Guitars
Marvin Kessler – Guitars
Viktor Dick – Bass
Danny Straßer – Drums

MENTAL CRUELTY online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mental_cruelty/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2iE1NqruxoSxTvOpTCLkE9
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mentalcrueltyofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mentalcrueltyofficial

“Nordlys”, MENTAL CRUELTY‘s newest offering describes the tale of the Nordic afterlife, where ancient deities and restless spirits reign with almighty wrath. Follow the journey of souls rising up to heaven, but beware the phantoms of the afterlife and the omen of bane; the “Nordlys” may be listened to HERE; the awesome music video (produced by Aurora Motion Pictures) can be watched below.

Mental Cruelty comments on the new single: “The song “Nordlys” is about ancient sagas of the northern lights, interpreted differently by Vikings and Norwegian tribes. These tales interpreted the lights in the sky in different ways. We should approach new situations positively, remembering fear often lies in our heads. Musically, it’s not a typical Mental Cruelty song, with an acoustic guitar intro and orchestration setting the mood. The song ends with a guitar riff that will make you want to headbang.”

Armed with new vocalist Lukas Nicolai, Mental Cruelty usher in a new epoch of unlight and grim determination that’s at the heart of their upcoming album, Zwielicht (translated in English as “Twilight”). Once again working with producer and mixer Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Ov Sulfur, Signs of the Swarm The Browning), they’ve pushed their sound to new blacker intensities forged in emotional riffing, heavy “back to the roots” breakdowns, and epic orchestral arrangements that surpass the already elite standards that have become synonymous with their name.

Mental Cruelty comments on the upcoming album: “Let us embrace a new era of darkness by bringing the “black” into blackened heavy music. Join us on the way down to infernal gates of hell to be rebirthed back to life. The album will contain the most mind-bending variety of different heavy musical influences and sounds. Epic symphonic orchestras accompanied by slam breakdowns; this will have it all. Inspired from metaphors written by nature, death, and inner demons.  

We can´t put into words the level of excitement we feel by announcing this album to you. We hope you feel the same way! Thank you for being with us and stay tuned for upcoming news!”

Zwielicht is coming. Mental Cruelty’s reign of darkness is just getting started.

Watch the previously released videos below:
“Zwielicht/Symphony of a Dying Star”
“Forgotten Kings”

Pre-order the album here.