Sanguisugabogg, or the band with the ridiculous name, have been more than making headlines in the death metal world since they first popped on the scene. Their highly anticipated new record, Homicidal Ecstasy, out February 3 via Century Media Records, featured a revised lineup, and is still expected to carry on their tradition of sticking with classic death metal tropes like brutality and body horror-inspired lyrics, but tapping into modern influence when it comes to how varied the bands’ inspirations are.
In short, quite a lot on the shoulders of one death metal band, but the music and their attitude proves they have it on lock.
“This is my first record with the band,” says guitarist Drew Arnold. “The way we did it was very collaborative—There are songs that are all four of us contributing together, or just two of us together. It was a collaboration, and we put all our heads together. Cody (Davidson, drums) recorded this one again like he did with Pornographic Seizures and Tortured Whole.”
Like many good things in life, Arnold wasn’t banking on joining such a prominent band full-time, but fate was on his side.
“I was driving to work one day, and Devin (Swank, vocals) hit me up to see if I wanted to fill in for some shows,” he admits. “I ended up joining them for their tour runs and then joining full-time. It’s been a crazy year-and-a-half.”
In many ways, Homicidal Ecstasy picks up where previous records left off, but in addition to even heavier, catchier riffing and the refreshed lineup, the record also taps into deeper, darker lyrical material.
“There are a lot of songs about self-mutilation, self-harm, just a lot of more personal topics, on this record,” says Arnold, though he says Swank is the only one who can truly expand on the meaning behind his lyrics. “I love Devon’s lyrics, and these songs are like well-thought-out little stories.”
In general, it sounds that the members of the band have a lot of respect for each other, as well as for other bands in the scene. Almost every member of the band also plays music with other folks in other groups, and it’s that connection and dedication to the music that fuels them all to want to push further.
“That’s pretty much all we do–even outside of Sanguisugabogg, we jam with other people, we all have other bands. It’s like an addiction; I can’t get enough of it. And It’s really awesome having so many different peers and friends who are touring a bunch, playing a bunch, because it inspires us to keep going, and it’s great to see our friends killing it as well. It’s a very special feeling seeing everyone kill it. It’s really cool seeing every band do cool things and coming up together, touring together.”
In addition to the wide network of friends and musicians the band is a part of, they also attribute the variety in their still-straightforward, death metal sound to their varied influences.
“We listen to so much different music, whether it be Korn or Defeated Sanity or hip hop, anything, we’re just trying to add our favorite parts from our favorite bands.”
While Arnold intimates that there won’t be another full-length this year, plans are to come out with another record hopefully by 2024. In the meantime, catch Sanguisugabogg on tour in support of Homicidal Ecstasy.
