Swedish melodic death/groove metal band Orbit Culture have revealed their fifth studio album, Death Above Life, set for release on October 3, 2025, via Century Media Records. Marking their debut with the label, the album follows their acclaimed 2023 releases Descent and The Forgotten EP. The band has dropped the title track, “Death Above Life,” alongside a haunting music video produced by Riivata Visuals, premiered exclusively on SiriusXM Liquid Metal on June 9, 2025. The single follows the earlier release of “The Tales of War,” debuted on May 7, 2025, and will make its live debut at Download Festival 2025 on June 15.
Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Niklas Karlsson describes the album: “It represents change, a new beginning. It brings up a lot of good and bad emotions, but it’s a big change for the better. It feels like a rebirth.” The band adds about the title track: “While ‘The Tales of War’ acted as a bridge to the next chapter, this one kicks the doors wide open. It’s darker, heavier, and leans into a more horror-driven side of Orbit Culture. Lyrically, it reflects a choice: when faced with continuing down a path surrounded by the wrong people, we sometimes know we have to cut ties. It’s about letting go of what no longer fits to make space for something real.”
Watch the “Death Above Life” video:
Stream/Preorder “Death Above Life” at orbitcultureband.lnk.to/DeathAboveLife-Album
Produced by Orbit Culture and mixed by Buster Odeholm (Vildhjarta, Humanity’s Last Breath), Death Above Life is a 10-track modern metal manifesto, blending thrash, melodic death metal, djent, and metalcore influences with cinematic soundscapes inspired by composers like Hans Zimmer and Howard Shore. Karlsson’s DIY ethos and dark, atmospheric visuals elevate the album’s immersive experience.
Track Listing:
- Inferna (6:45)
- Bloodhound (5:04)
- Inside The Waves (4:39)
- The Tales of War (5:10)
- Hydra (4:49)
- Nerve (5:54)
- Death Above Life (5:31)
- The Storm (4:16)
- Neural Collapse
- The Path I Walk
Available Formats:
- Ltd. CD Digipak
- Gatefold black 2LP
- Ltd. Gatefold greenish ReVinyl 2LP (600x, cmdistro.de, indie retailers, Orbit Culture)
- Ltd. Gatefold transp. red 2LP (500x, Levykuappa Äx, HMV, France)
- Ltd. Gatefold neon yellow-black marbled 2LP (500x, EMP)
- Ltd. Gatefold Sparkle Starlight 2LP (500x, Orbit Culture)
- Ltd. Gatefold transp. light blue-black marbled 2LP (500x, EU tour exclusive)
- Gatefold fruit punch 2LP (US)
- Ltd. Gatefold transp. coke bottle green 2LP (1000x, US indie retailers)
- Ltd. Gatefold white 2LP (300x, Revolver Magazine)
- Ltd. Gatefold metallic golden 2LP (500x, centurymedia.store, Orbit Culture)
- Ltd. Gatefold black-grey marble 2LP (500x, Orbit Culture)
- Standard CD Jewelcase (Japan)
- Digital Album (24-bit/44.1K HD audio)
Hailing from Eksjö, Sweden, Orbit Culture—Niklas Karlsson (guitar, vocals), Richard Hansson (guitar), Fredrik Lennartsson (bass), and Christopher Wallerstedt (drums)—has become a global force since forming in 2013. Their early works, Odyssey EP (2013) and In Medias Res (2014), gained local traction, while 2018’s Redfog EP and 2020’s Nija broke through with millions of streams. Signing with Century Media in January 2024 after fulfilling their Seek & Strike contract, the band has toured with Slipknot, Trivium, Bullet for My Valentine, Machine Head, and In Flames. Their 2023 album Descent was lauded by Metal Hammer as “a formidable entwining of modern metal’s most effective and exciting strands.”
Fresh off the Poisoned Ascendancy tour with Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine, Orbit Culture are set for a packed summer, including festival slots and select shows supporting In Flames. Confirmed 2025 appearances include:
- 6/15 – Download Festival, Donington Park, UK
- 6/19-21 – Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel, Belgium
- 6/26-28 – Tons of Rock, Oslo, Norway
- 6/27-29 – Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, Helsinki, Finland
Full tour details are available at orbitculture.com.
Orbit Culture Lineup:
- Niklas Karlsson – Guitar, Vocals
- Richard Hansson – Guitar
- Fredrik Lennartsson – Bass
- Christopher Wallerstedt – Drums
Follow Orbit Culture on orbitculture.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Bandcamp for updates on Death Above Life and tour news.