Canadian deathcore pioneers DESPISED ICON return with their seventh full-length album, Shadow Work which will be released on October 31, 2025 via Nuclear Blast Records. Their first new music in six years, the album stands as the band's most fine-tuned and dynamic effort to date, balancing relentless speed, crushing grooves, and morbid melodies, while remaining true to their signature blend of extreme death metal and hardcore grit.
Driven by DESPISED ICON's trademark fusion of explosive blast beats and crushing breakdowns, 'Death of an Artist' is a merciless journey through the psychological turmoil of self-doubt, ego death, and rebirth. Defined by raw intensity and unyielding resolve, the lyrics follow a powerful journey of transformation: an artist confronts fading dreams and broken promises before emerging stronger through ruin and redemption. Watch the music video directed by Jessy Fuchs, here: https://youtu.be/cgbhoxa2sAc
DESPISED ICON's Alex Erian comments, "We promised a rollercoaster with this record, and it’s time to deliver. Where 'Over My Dead Body' leaned into crushing grooves and dissonance, 'Death Of An Artist' pushes the pedal down with pure speed and technicality. This one is not only my favorite track on the album, it’s also the most personal. You can hear the echoes of the classic Death Metal bands that shaped us running through some of these riffs. We’re just getting started. Thanks for listening."
Pre-order/pre-save Shadow Work:
https://despisedicon.bfan.link/shadow-work
Stream 'Death Of An Artist': https://despisedicon.bfan.link/death-of-an-artist
Despised Icon
Despised Icon - release music video for new single 'Death Of An Artist'
Driven by DESPISED ICON's trademark fusion of explosive blast beats and crushing breakdowns, 'Death of an Artist' is a merciless journey through the psychological turmoil of self-doubt, ego death, and rebirth. Defined by raw intensity and unyielding resolve, the lyrics follow a powerful journey of transformation: an artist confronts fading dreams and broken promises before emerging stronger through ruin and redemption.
