Description
‘Next To Die’ marks a new creative high for Six Feet Under, ‘Next to Die’s dozen songs marking the bands 15th album since 1995s ‘Haunted’. It started out as an album full of death metal songs with speed and aggression, says guitarist Jack Owen. Then Chris had the brilliant idea to keep half of those death metal songs and add some groovier songs in the vein of the early Six Feet Under material. Chris emphasized tempo, so keeping with the beats per minute for early SFU classics, I wrote a side of tasty groove-laden music with Chris doing all the lyrics.
The creative collaborative approach sees ‘Next to Die’ essentially broken down into two different sides, Death and Groove, resulting in an aural masterwork that satisfies Six Feet Under as artists, while also offering something for every fan.
‘Next to Die’, produced by Jack Owen and singer Chris Barnes and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis of MRL Studios, Nashville, follows 2024s Killing for Revenge. Its the third record that Barnes and Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) have created together since reuniting in 2017. We dont discuss lyrical themes, we each write what were feeling, explains Barnes. We each just write what we find interesting.
SFU did highly successful U.S. tours in 2025, the bands first U.S. tour since 2013, as well as a festival appearance in Mexico City in March 25. Owen personally feels grateful and fortunate. Grateful that we have a label, Metal Blade, who is 110 percent behind us. Fortunate that when we go out on the road, we have countless fans who come out and support us.
Those fans have a new set of killer songs to dive into on ‘Next to Die’, including, The Unmistakable Smell of Death, which sees Owen owning his blast and fast riffs with dynamic pull-offs and stop sections. Lyrically, I’m writing from the perspective of a killer who toys with a victim and unties them, allowing them to fight, says Owen. He underestimates their ability to fight, and they get the better of the killer.
Mutilated Corpse in the Woods tells a tale ripped from the headlines about a victim whose brutal assailant tied her to a tree and slit her throat, while Mister Blood and Guts found Owen writing music after a few days of musing on the lyrics in his head. When I was young, local TV stations always had a show where a creepy host would show campy cult movies and dress up and tell you tidbits abouts the film. This continues today with a show hosted by the creepiest of hosts, Svengoolie. Mister Blood and Guts is about a film you might see on one of these shows, though in true Six Feet Under style its got a much more violent plot.
To bring the songs to brutal life, Barnes recorded his vocals at the legendary Criteria Recording Studios in Miami. Ive recorded 90% of my vocals for Six Feet Under there with my longtime friend and engineer Chris Carroll, says Barnes. Criteria has a long and rich history of recording some of the most famous and important albums in the history of music. I feel very comfortable working there.
Six Feet Under was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, Cannibal Corpse. It became the frontmans sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, ‘Haunted’. The current tour-honed lineup of Barnes, Owen , lead guitarist Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell, and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit. The musicians tracked their ‘Next to Die’ parts at their home studios, for a remote collaboration that created a dozen cohesive tracks.
Barnes titled the record after the song Next to Die, as it best represents what is contained within the ideas/storylines of the lyrics of each song. The frontman urges close listening, saying, thats the great thing about music and art and reading. It takes you on an exploration into your own imagination, and that personal experience lets you discover what you think the meaning is. Having someone tell you what it means takes away that magic, Barnes believes.
Sandy Rezalmis cover art perfectly brings to life the journey that the LPs lyrics and music take listeners on, and SFU are excited to share that gory and glorious vision with listeners everywhere. Tour dates are being worked on for 2026 and 2027, with Six Feet Under more than ready to jump back on stage. We enjoy being on the road, wherever it is, Owen says. Every day is different. This album has enough great material do give us the opportunity to play these, plus lots of our older classics, to fans around the world.
Limited 180g black vinyl pressing.
Tracklisting
Side A:
Approach Your Grave
Destroyed Remains
Mister Blood and Guts
Mutilated Corpse in the Woods
Unmistakable Smell of Death
Wrath and Terror Takes Command
Side B:
Skin Coffins
Mind Hell
Naked and Dismembered
Grasped From Beyond
Next to Die
Ill Wishes
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