MENTAL CRUELTY – epic new single released
- Posted on 12-10-2026
Credit: Josh Richter
With Echoes of a Forlorn Land drawing closer, MENTAL CRUELTY unleash its grand finale with “Ride of the Valkyries”, accompanied by the cinematic intro “Dämmerbruch”.
“Ride Of The Valkyries” Single Artwork by Marvin Kessler
Serving as the closing chapter of the upcoming record, the two tracks bring its world to a monumental conclusion. Sweeping orchestration and triumphant melodies collide with MENTAL CRUELTY’s extreme metal force, channeling the mythology of the Valkyries and the journey of fallen warriors to Valhalla.
The scale reaches another level with the accompanying video. Created together with renowned production company Grupa13 (Behemoth, Amon Amarth), MENTAL CRUELTY’s most ambitious visual production to date plays more like a short Viking film than a traditional music video, bringing both “Dämmerbruch” and “Ride of the Valkyries” to life on a truly cinematic scale.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “DÄMMERBRUCH” AND “RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES” HERE
Vocalist Lukas Nicolai comments: “‘Ride of the Valkyries’ is the grand finale ahead of the release of our new LP Echoes of a Forlorn Land. It closes the album (alongside intro “Dämmerbruch”) with heroic atmosphere, bombastic orchestration and uplifting melodies to tell the tale of Norse mythology’s angelic deliverers of the dead.
Symphonic death metal’s epic riffing serves as the perfect soundtrack to fallen warriors’ journey to Valhalla, as well as the battlefield below, where the likes of Children of Bodom, Wintersun and Ensiferum clash with each other and influences like black metal and deathcore.
We matched that with the biggest, most expensive and over-the-top production we’ve ever done, both musically and visually. We teamed up with production company Grupa13 (Behemoth, Amon Amarth) to create our own blockbuster, complete with a captivating intro and epic emotional ending. Throughout are stunning shots centered around a historically-accurate Norse village and re-enactors who focus on the time period to keep it true. This is basically our own little Viking movie!”
Produced, mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Kreator, Amon Amarth, Opeth), Echoes of a Forlorn Land pushes MENTAL CRUELTY beyond the foundations laid on Zwielicht, further expanding their uncompromising blend of extreme metal and dark atmosphere. Join their text list to stay up to date and be the first to hear about new tour dates and more.
Artwork by Dustin Storkebaum
Echoes of a Forlorn Land IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AS:
- Ltd. CD Digipak
- Standard CD Jewelcase (US version)
- Bloodlust LP & LP-Booklet – All Retailers
- Ltd. Crimson Snow LP & LP-Booklet – Band Edition – Limited to 500 Copies Worldwide
- Deep Sea LP &LP-Booklet (US version) – All Retailers
- Ltd. Berserker LP &LP-Booklet (US version) – Band Edition – Limited to 500 Copies Worldwide
- Ltd. Deluxe Box Set – Band Edition
PRE-ORDER Echoes of a Forlorn Land NOW
This November and December, MENTAL CRUELTY will bring Echoes of a Forlorn Land across Europe on a massive 21-date headline run. Ov Sulfur and Extermination Dismemberment join throughout the tour, with Acranius and Sun Eater appearing on select dates. Get your tickets now: https://bnds.us/i4cbke
European Headline Tour w/ Ov Sulfur, Extermination Dismemberment, Acranius, Sun Eater
27.11🇳🇱Rotterdam @ Baroeg ~
28.11🇩🇪Köln @ Club Volta ~
29.11🇳🇱Nijmegen @ Doornrosje ~
30.11🇬🇧Birmingham @ Asylum ~
02.12🇬🇧Manchester @ Academy 3 ~
03.12🇬🇧London @ Downstairs At The Dome ~
04.12🇫🇷Paris @ Glazart ~
05.12🇧🇪Antwerp @ Zappa ~
06.12🇩🇪Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli ^
07.12🇩🇰Copenhagen @ Hotel Cecil ^
08.12🇸🇪Stockholm @ Kollektivet Livet ^
10.12🇫🇮Jyväskylä @ Lutakko ^
11.12🇫🇮Helsinki @ Ääniwalli ^
13.12🇸🇪Gothenburg @ Monument ^
14.12🇩🇪Berlin @ Hole 44 ^
15.12🇨🇿Prague @ Rock Café ^
16.12🇩🇪Frankfurt @ Das Bett ~ ^
17.12🇩🇪München @ Backstage ^
18.12🇨🇭Aarau @ KIFF ^
19.12 🇩🇪Schweinfurt @ Alter Stattbahnhof ^
20.12🇩🇪Karlsruhe @ Substage ^
^ w/ Acranius
~ w/ Sun Eater
Since forming in 2014, MENTAL CRUELTY have grown from their deathcore roots into an internationally recognized force in extreme metal. Their rise has taken them across Europe and beyond, sharing stages with Lorna Shore, Cradle of Filth, Carnifex, Shadow of Intent, Kanonenfieber, Signs of the Swarm and more. With an expanding global audience and a reputation for powerful live performances, the band continues to cement its place among the leading names of a new generation of extreme metal. With Echoes of a Forlorn Land, MENTAL CRUELTY now take their next major step, presenting their most expansive and fully realized vision yet.
MENTAL CRUELTY line up:
Lukas Nicolai – Vocals
Nahuel Lozano – Guitars, Vocals
Marvin Kessler – Guitars
Jonathan Koltun – Drums
Watch the previously released videos below:
“Helheim”, “The Serpent of Midgard”, “Raise The Raven Banner” & “Frost”