Today, Mental Cruelty announces their new studio album “Echoes of a Forlorn Land”, set for release on October 23rd, 2026, via Century Media. The band also unveil the album’s third single, “Raise the Raven Banner”, available now alongside a thrilling official music video, available below.
With “Echoes of a Forlorn Land”, Mental Cruelty opens a powerful new chapter, delivering their most ambitious and immersive work to date. Expanding beyond the boundaries of modern deathcore, the German six-piece forges a sound where blackened death metal collides with elements of black metal, folk and power metal, creating a cinematic and emotionally charged experience that pushes the band’s identity further than ever before.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by acclaimed producer Jens Bogren (Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Kreator, Amon Amarth, Opeth), “Echoes of a Forlorn Land” captures Mental Cruelty at the height of their creative evolution. Building on the momentum of “Zwielicht”, the band continues to establish itself as one of the most forward-thinking and uncompromising forces in modern extreme metal.
Watch the official video for “Raise the Raven Banner” below.
Mental Cruelty comments on their new single and the upcoming album:
“‘Raise the Raven Banner’ feels like the perfect song to announce our new era, ‘Echoes of a Forlorn Land’. The flag referenced in the title was once flown in battle as a symbol of Odin; the Raven Banner was believed to bring victory and the strength of the Norse Allfather and God of war. Now, we’re raising our own. With ‘Echoes of a Forlorn Land’, we embrace a darker, heavier sound, blending black metal, folk metal, and melodic death metal with our deathcore foundation. It’s our declaration of evolution: a new chapter forged to stand tall in a scene filled with exceptional bands. We’re confident, waving our flag and planting it wherever we go as we tell the tales of Norse mythology. You’ll find nods to it throughout one of our best merch drops yet, including a very special box set edition of the album that we’ve poured as much love into as the music itself”.
They continue: “Since we’re writing about Odin, Loki, Thor and their kin, we figured we better get some Scandinavians on board. Enter our Swedish friend Jens Bogren, who mixed and mastered the album to great impact. The same goes for the video for ‘Raise the Raven Banner’. We hold ourselves to the highest standards when it comes to visuals, making sure they match and elevate the music. We travelled to Estonia to work with our boys at Riivata Visuals from Finland, whose impressive portfolio also includes videos for our labelmates Orbit Culture, Humanity’s Last Breath, Allt, and Insomnium. As part of the Century Media family alongside so many incredible bands, we’re equally grateful for the company we’ll be keeping on the road. Our album release tour and very first headline tour ever features further labelmates, Ov Sulfur on their inaugural European run, alongside Extermination Dismemberment, Acranius, and Sun Eater”.
The band concludes: “We’ll also be playing Music Forge Festival in just over a week, with more shows to be announced soon. Join our text list to stay up to date and be the first to hear about new tour dates and more”!
“Echoes of a Forlorn Land” will be available in the following formats:
• Ltd. CD Digipak
• Standard CD Jewelcase (US version)
• Bloodlust LP & LP-Booklet – All Retailers
• Ltd. Crimson Snow LP & LP-Booklet – Band Edition – Limited to 500 Copies Worldwide
• Deep Sea LP &LP-Booklet (US version) – All Retailers
• Ltd. Berserker LP &LP-Booklet (US version) – Band Edition – Limited to 500 Copies Worldwide
• Ltd. Deluxe Box Set – Band Edition
Pre-order & pre-save “Echoes of a Forlorn Land” here.
Tracklist:
1. Weltennacht
2. Fenrir
3. Blood for Blood
4. The Serpent of Midgard
5. Helheim
6. Draugar
7. Raise the Raven Banner
8. Cry of Batariel
9. Frost
10. Dämmerbruch
11. Ride of the Valkyries
To coincide with the album release, Mental Cruelty will embark on a European headline tour throughout November and December, bringing “Echoes of a Forlorn Land” to audiences across the continent for the first time.
Following a packed touring schedule across Europe and North America, Mental Cruelty will return to the road later this year for an extensive European headline tour. Joined by Ov Sulfur and Extermination Dismemberment, with Acranius and Sun Eater appearing on select dates, the tour will take the band across 21 cities throughout Europe from late November to December.
Get tickets here.
European Headline Tour Dates 2026:
27.11 🇳🇱 Rotterdam @ Baroeg ~
28.11 🇩🇪 Köln @ Club Volta ~
29.11 🇳🇱 Nijmegen @ Doornrosje ~
30.11 🇬🇧 Birmingham @ Asylum ~
02.12 🇬🇧 Manchester @ Academy 3 ~
03.12 🇬🇧 London @ Downstairs At The Dome ~
04.12 🇫🇷 Paris @ Glazart ~
05.12 🇧🇪 Antwerp @ Zappa ~
06.12 🇩🇪 Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli ^
07.12 🇩🇰 Copenhagen @ Hotel Cecil ^
08.12 🇸🇪 Stockholm @ Kollektivet Livet ^
10.12 🇫🇮 Jyväskylä @ Lutakko ^
11.12 🇫🇮 Helsinki @ Ääniwalli ^
13.12 🇸🇪 Gothenburg @ Monument ^
14.12 🇩🇪 Berlin @ Hole 44 ^
15.12 🇨🇿 Prague @ Rock Café ^
16.12 🇩🇪 Frankfurt @ Das Bett ~ ^
17.12 🇩🇪 München @ Backstage ^
18.12 🇨🇭 Aarau @ KIFF ^
19.12 🇩🇪 Schweinfurt @ Alter Stattbahnhof ^
20.12 🇩🇪 Karlsruhe @ Substage ^
^ (w/ Acranius)
~ (w/ Sun Eater)
Since forming in 2014, Mental Cruelty have grown from their deathcore roots into an internationally recognized force in extreme metal. Their rise has taken them across Europe and beyond, sharing stages with Lorna Shore, Cradle of Filth, Carnifex, Shadow of Intent, Kanonenfieber, Signs of the Swarm and more. With an expanding global audience and a reputation for powerful live performances, the band continues to cement its place among the leading names of a new generation of extreme metal. With “Echoes of a Forlorn Land”, Mental Cruelty now takes their next major step, presenting their most expansive and fully realized vision yet.
Line-up:
Lukas Nicolai – Vocals
Nahuel Lozano – Guitars, Vocals
Marvin Kessler – Guitars
Jonathan Koltun – Drums
Weblinks:
mentalcrueltyofficial.com
www.facebook.com/MentalCruelty
