Clan dos Mortos Cicatriz: Brazilian Nekropunx Meditate on Death & Despair in “Máscara da Morte”

Brazilian four-piece Clan dos Mortos Cicatriz have been making a name for themselves in the underground metal-punk circuit since their first EP in 2017. With an incendiary amount of extreme metal, crust, and a touch of death rock, they unpack an even darker atmosphere on “Máscara da Morte” (meaning “Death Mask” in Portuguese), the new single from their upcoming debut album Técnicas de Morte, set for release on March 21, 2025, via Sentient Ruin.

The track, which you can stream below, sets the tone for the ominous darkness and existential dread woven into the band’s bleak aura. With catchy, old-school crusty heavy metal riffs and a very distinct cavernous vocal style reminiscent of Sakevi, or even Nick Blinko, the single immediately pulls you in. A sense of urgency and emotional weight is ingrained in the band’s sound, which incorporates influences ranging from ’80s hardcore punk and crust/stenchcore to the first wave of black and death metal, plus a touch of gothic/deathrock in both atmosphere and vocals. Such a broad array of inspirations fused into a compact, original approach is precisely what the scene always needs, and Clan dos Mortos Cicatriz delivers it perfectly.

Their lyrics and music center on the dark specters of the human psyche and its capacity to descend into morbid, eerie planes of existence during moments of transcendental suffering—ultimately evoking a kind of “disharmonic catharsis.” In these bleakest instants, a unique state of mind arises where one perceives not only personal misery, but more importantly, the collective misery of the world. It’s a sorrowful yet enlightening experience that offers a perspective few other musical genres can share.

Based on listening to “Máscara da Morte,” the upcoming album Técnicas de Morte promises to be a logical yet thrilling extension of their established style—this time pushing even further into bleak sonic territories. The guitar work is especially satisfying, scratching that old-school, extreme punk-metal itch. Composition and production are both spot-on, and the grim noisescapes, tied to themes of utter darkness and isolation, offer a strong preview of what the album holds.

You can already pre-order the record on vinyl and tape from Sentient Ruin Laboratories. For all metalpunk ghouls out there, this will be an enticing surprise: your craving for old-school, filthy musical darkness will be fulfilled by this Brazilian death-punk cult.