The Munsens are sharing their new track “Drauga,” from their upcoming new album Degradation in the Hyperreal. The album will be released on October 24.
Listen to the track here:
Check out the recent interview with Michael and Shaun Goodwin below:
What was the writing and recording process for this album, and how does it differ from previous releases?
Michael: The songs on this album were written over the course of roughly six years, between the recording of our last full-length (Unhanded) and January 2024 when we went into the studio to start recording this latest album with Felipe Patino at Green Door Recordings. It took a lot longer to write this one since we were not all in the same state, and it has more three tracks than Unhanded.
We recorded the album over two stretches at Felipe’s studio, in January and March of 2024. Sacred Ivory was actually recorded in October or November of 2022, with the idea that we’d be back in the studio shortly thereafter to record the full album.
It took us a lot longer than anticipated to finish the album but we think the extra time to experiment with ideas and arrangements worked to its benefit. It also enabled us to fold many different influences into this album.
I’m hearing a lot of death metal influence on this one, but also a major nod to the doomier roots. How did the latest version of your sound come about, and how did it change over the years?
Shaun: This album encompasses the sound the three of us had in mind when Graham joined the band in 2016. We knew we wanted to write songs that incorporated more of our collective influences.
Unhanded was sami-written when Graham joined, so a bit of that came through on that record. But this album was really our chance to build something between the three of us from the ground up.
The scene in Denver has only been growing over the years, and you all are one of its pioneers. How does it feel seeing the metal scene develop so much over the past decade or so?
Michael: I think we’ve made contributions to the scene, as a band and as individuals, but I’d stress that we don’t see ourselves as pioneers of the Denver scene. Simply, we weren’t there early enough.
Graham grew up in Colorado and was involved in the Denver music scene earlier than Shaun and I, who landed in Denver in the early 2010s.
We have, however, been involved for a while and watched the scene evolve. There are a lot of remarkable things about it—for example, it’s notable to have so many great bands, from internationally renowned acts to killer underground bands, in one city. We are proud to have been a small part of it, and love seeing Denver bands get the recognition they deserve.
On the flip side, it sucks to see so many independent clubs closing and the hits the scene takes when those things happen. We are in New Jersey now, and miss the energy of the Denver scene. We hope it persists despite a changing city and hope Denver remains a hotbed for heavy music. We had to book an album release show at Hi Dive to show our love and appreciation for the city. We plan to come out as often as we can.
What are some of the big lyrical themes and concepts with this record?
Michael: This record comprises a few different themes. Much of my contribution deals with cultural rot and the degradation of the human spirit. I also played with an idea from Saramago’s Death at Intervals for “Supreme Death.”
Shaun: I typically write lyrics last in the songwriting process and often use topics happening around me at the time, which make them easier to put onto paper. Some of my lyrics were written during the pandemic so they touch on depression, addiction, suicide, and physical and mental health struggles.
Do you have any plans in the works to tour on this record?
Shaun: Other than two album release shows, we don’t have any concrete tour plans at the moment, but we’re currently booking 2026 festivals and discussing a Northeast run for early 2026.
Do you already have the next album after this one in the works, or are you just focusing on this promotion cycle for now?
Michael: We’ve got a few ideas for new songs but are primarily focused on this record release and getting things moving on the East Coast now that Shaun and I have moved to New Jersey.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Michael: Our album release shows are November 15th at Hi Dive in Denver, CO and November 22nd at Over the Moon Art Studios in Asbury Park, NJ. Visit the venue websites for tickets.
Felipe Patino recorded, mixed and mastered Degradation in the Hyperreal at Green Door Recordings in Englewood, Colorado.
Degradation in the Hyperreal Track List:
Eternal Grasp
Sacred Ivory
Drauga
Scaling Ceaușescu’s Balcony
Supreme Death
Vesper
The Knife
I Avow
Preorder the album here.
Album Release Shows:
November 15, 2025 — Denver, CO
November 22, 2025 — Asbury Park, NJ
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Photo courtesy of The Munsens
