German thrash metal veterans EXUMER have announced the release of their sixth studio album, Death Mask Messiah, arriving on August 28 via Metal Blade Records. The record marks the band’s first new studio effort in seven years and serves as a more aggressive continuation of the sound established on 2019’s Hostile Defiance.
Produced by Dominic Paraskevopoulos (Kreator, Caliban) and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, King Diamond), Death Mask Messiah was recorded between December 2025 and January 2026. According to vocalist and co-founder Mem V. Stein, the new material returns to a more direct, “in your face” approach while preserving the band’s classic 1980s thrash identity.
The album also marks the first full-length to feature drummer Jerome Reil and bassist Alex Voss. Stein praised the pair for bringing fresh energy to the band’s established sound while helping sharpen EXUMER’s trademark aggression.
Fans can now hear the album’s title track, “Death Mask Messiah,” which serves as the first single. Lyrically, the song draws inspiration from the 1993 Waco siege and uses David Koresh as a symbol of manipulative figures who exploit power and misinformation. Stein explained that the song encapsulates the album’s broader themes, which explore political division, misinformation, the pandemic, and modern social unrest.
The record also includes a cover of “Unchained Angel” by American metal pioneers NASTY SAVAGE, featuring guest vocals from Nasty Ronnie. The collaboration pays tribute to EXUMER’s history with the band, dating back to their shared European tour in 1988.
The album artwork and layout were created by Björn Gooßes of Killustrations, whose previous work includes projects for Sodom and Vomitory.
Death Mask Messiah Track Listing
- Death Mask Messiah
- Blinding Skies
- Sin Bleeder
- Eradication
- Ravishing Waste
- Allocated Savagery
- Serpent
- Fratricide
- Scorcher
- Frozen Ground
- Unchained Angel
In support of the release, EXUMER has confirmed the following festival appearances:
- October 23, 2026 — Nuclear Winter Festival — Hirschaid, Germany
- November 21, 2026 — Alcatraz & Pluto Festival — Deinze, Belgium
- February 20, 2027 — Endzeit Festival — Essen, Germany
Death Mask Messiah will be available on CD, digital formats, and multiple limited-edition vinyl variants.
Find pre-orders at: metalblade.com/exumer