Chicago’s death metal band Bear Mace are set to release their third album, Slaves Of The Wolf, on June 6, 2025. Formed in 2012, the band—Chris Scearce (vocals), Mark Sugar (guitar), Tommy Bellino (guitar), John Porada (bass), and Garry Naples (drums)—delivers a relentless 8-track assault that dives into warfare, survival, and historical horrors. The album is available for pre-order and streaming on Bandcamp at bearmace.bandcamp.com.
Slaves Of The Wolf opens with its title track, a tribute to soldiers lost to history’s brutal wars, setting a grim tone. “Worthless Lives” critiques modern society’s existential decay with ferocious riffs, while “The Iceman Cometh” delves into the cold-blooded legacy of contract killer Richard Kuklinski, drawing Slayer influences with a standout guitar solo tradeoff, as noted by guitarist Mark Sugar. “Captured And Consumed” features death metal legend Kam Lee (Massacre), adding a harrowing layer to its WWII-inspired narrative. Recorded at Hypercube Studios and Miracle On Mace Street Studios in Chicago, engineered by Sanford Parker, and mixed/mastered by Damian Herring, the album’s production is sharp and punishing. The cover art by Dedy Badic captures the album’s raw, historical intensity.
Tracklist:
- Slaves Of The Wolf
- Worthless Lives
- Drown Them In Their Blood
- The Iceman Cometh
- Captured And Consumed (ft. Kam Lee)
- Heretics Burn
- Prophecy
- Cancerous Winds
Bear Mace has built a reputation for blending old-school death metal—think Bolt Thrower and Massacre—with narrative depth, exploring themes from ancient battles to modern dystopias. Since their 2017 debut Butchering The Colossus, they’ve earned acclaim for their brutal live shows, including a 2022 tour with Macabre and a co-headlining spot at Into The Darkness Fest in Ohio.
The band is preparing to tour nationwide, promising explosive performances to bring these tracks to life.