Legendary, genre-defying and long-running progressive death metallers PESTILENCE, originally established in the Netherlands in 1986, have signed a worldwide record deal with Agonia Records, by the courtesy of Hadeon Records. The band is currently working on their new album titled Exitivm.
From auspicious thrash metal beginnings, which earned them a deal with Roadrunner Records, to a spot-on death metal transformation, which turned them into a genre pioneering phenom, PESTILENCE is alive and kicking after decades since its fateful inception in 1986.
Labeled on the same genre-defying scale as DEATH, CYNIC and ATHEIST, but also OBITUARY and DEICIDE, with whom the band shared the same label-home throughout the 90s, PESTILENCE exists as an influential, innovative and distinctive player, despite a turbulent history featuring two breakups (in 1994 and 2014) and reunions (in 2008 and 2016, respectively).
The band’s binding factor and leading creative force throughout all cycles has always been founder and guitarist Patrick Mameli. The latter had this to say about the signing:
“PESTILENCE and Hadeon Records [the band’s own imprint] are very excited to be joining forces with Agonia Records in an exclusive, worldwide agreement to explore new pathways in writing history together.”
PESTLIENCE‘ last album, Hadeon, was released to acclaim in 2018, taking everyone by surprise with a nod towards the band’s early death metal years, yet still nourishing their experimental expression. The album was released in sync with an extensive European trek, followed a South American run and many other shows throughout 2018, only to begin 2019 with even more touring across UK and Europe.
This summer, among many other shows, PESTILENCE played at Netherlands Deathfest 2019 (NL), Maryland Deathfest 2019 (USA), Metal East Fest 2019 (UA), Dokk’em Open Air 2019 (NL), Goathell Fest 2019 (HU), In Flammen 2019 (GER) as well as at an exclusive concert in Singapore.
Later this year, PESTILENCE is confirmed to perform at Leyendas Del Rock 2019 (ESP), Iberian Warriors Metal Fest 2019 (ES), Kaltenbach Open Air 2019 (AT) and is set to play an exclusive show in Tokyo, Japan in October.
