UK death metallers Celestial Sanctuary has unleashed a new video for “Choking On The Rotten Seed,” a track from their reissued EP Visions of Stagnant Blood, now available via Metal Blade Records as of April 11, 2025. The EP, initially self-released in June 2024, has been expanded with the new track and updated artwork, available digitally and on Rotten Scab (Red/Green Merge) vinyl at metalblade.com/celestialsanctuary.
Formed in 2019 in Bury St Edmunds, England, Celestial Sanctuary—vocalist/guitarist Thomas Cronin, guitarist Matt Adnett, bassist Jay Rutterford, and drummer James Burke—delivers a brutal blend of death metal inspired by Carcass, Dying Fetus, and Cannibal Corpse. The reissued EP, praised by Distorted Sound as “powerful, imposing, gory,” features four tracks: the title track, “Puddles of You Reflect the Filth Within,” the new “Choking On The Rotten Seed,” and the 10-minute closer “Gavage of the Vile,” which Noob Heavy calls a “grimy biohazard”. The band’s 2023 album Insatiable Thirst For Torment earned a 10/10 from Distorted Sound, cementing their status as a UK death metal force.
The “Choking On The Rotten Seed” video captures the band’s raw energy, blending live footage with shots of their hometown’s grim historical sites, like the Abbey of St. Edmunds—where King Edmund was beheaded in 870 CE—and Skinner Street, where butchers’ blood once pooled. Cronin explains, “We wanted to capture that 2:00 AM Headbangers Ball vibe—bands walking around their town, playing in skanky rooms, no polished viral moments. Our music is hard, and we let that shine.” The lyrics draw from the area’s gory past, including medieval executions and the “Red Barn Murders” of 1827, reflecting a history of violence that shapes their sound.
After a whirlwind 2024 with sets at Download Festival and Kerry King’s Electric Ballroom show, Celestial Sanctuary continues their live assault, supporting Employed To Serve tonight in Leeds, with festival dates through August at Mystic Festival, Dortmund Death Fest, and more. For fans of old-school death metal with a modern edge, this EP and video are a must-experience. Stream, order, and catch them live!