According to Blabbermouth, Knoxville, Tennessee death metal group Whitechapel have announced earlier today that they will be releasing a new studio album to add to their current five. Mark of the Blade, via Metal Blade Records, will be the sixth full-length album that the group will add to their already strong compendium of metal rock. The band has also decided to release a lyric video for the first single off this upcoming album, sharing title album, this song gives fans a small taste of what is to come from the death metal minds of these performers.

Redefining their identities and their capabilities in this newest addition, Whitechapel chose to reunite with longtime producer Mark Lewis (The Black Dahlia Murder, Cannibal Corpse) in order to help set the tone of their newest sound on Mark of the Blade. According to a press release, Mark of the Blade “remains true to the band’s roots while venturing into previously unexplored territory, both sonically and lyrically”. Starting off with the track “The Void” the listener can detect hints of a Slayer-esque ferocity that suits the band’s three guitar onslaught perfectly, continuing track after track until the rich, dark melodies in the closing song “Decennium” bring the album to an almost impossibly deniable emotional end that can weigh heavily on the listener.

Group’s guitarist Alex Wade comments on the new work, stating “It’s the most dynamic record we’ve done, in the sense that one song can be very aggressive while the next one will be softer and sentimental,” he continued “At this point in our career and as we grow older, we are taking a more open-minded approach to creating our music, allowing what we think sounds good to evolve naturally, rather than to just write what is expected of us.”

The new LP is set to be released on June 24th, however, prior to the release, the band will be headlining a full US tour accompanied by supporting bands Fit For A King, The Plot In You, and Enterprise Earth, which will conclude their support campaign for their 2014 album Our Endless War. Following the release of Mark of The Blade, the band will be joining the Van’s Warped Tour bill, adding to the already strong lineup of rock bands such as Atreyu, Bullet For My Valentine, Every time I Die, Motionless In White, and plenty more groups that intend to rock fans faces off.

Mark of the Blade Official Tracklist:

01. The Void
02. Mark of the Blade
03. Elitist Ones
04. Bring Me Home
05. Tremors
06. A Killing Industry
07. Tormented
08. Brotherhood
09. Dwell in the Shadows
10. Venomous
11. Decennium