Czech brutal death metal band Cutterred Flesh dives into madness, myth, and modern horrors with their latest single “The King in Yellow”—a haunting fusion of literary terror, psychological depth, and crushing soundscapes. We spoke with vocalist Jirka about the song, its inspiration, and what’s next for the band.
1. "The
King in Yellow" draws inspiration from Robert W. Chambers' stories and
their theme of madness. What was it about this work that resonated with you,
and why did you choose it as the basis for your song?
It actually
ties into the concept of our upcoming album, which is meant to be a musical
interpretation of the most brutal stories ever written by authors from around
the world. One of the themes or collections I wanted to use for this purpose
was The King in Yellow.
I believe Chambers, over a hundred years ago, brilliantly hinted at the idea
that even something seemingly innocent—like a book, in his case—can be
something that causes immense harm. It’s a perfect parallel to today’s world,
where it might not be a book, but instead social media and omnipresent hate.
We’re seeing more and more reports, especially involving young people, of
self-harm due to online challenges or bullying. That, for me, is today’s
version of “The King in Yellow.”
2. The
song blends brutal death metal with dissonant, atmospheric elements. How did
you approach this blending of styles, and what did you want to achieve
sonically with the track?
I think
topics like this fit perfectly with our style and musical expression. Emotions
are very important to me, and music should emphasize them—and I hope we managed
to do that.
3. You
mention the song as a warning about modern dangers, particularly related to
social media. How do you think today's digital world mirrors the madness in
"The King in Yellow"?
Yes, and
I’d say it’s more evident now than ever before. Bullying among even very young
children, sexual predators, body shaming... All of it deeply affects people and
threatens their development.
Sadly, there are more and more cases where it ends in serious harm or
death—just like in Chambers’ work.
4. The
lyrics explore themes of psychological ruin and the descent into madness. Was
it challenging to capture such a complex emotional journey in your music?
It came
together quite naturally—our lead guitarist Vitaly has a real talent for
expressing these emotions!
But seriously, we always try to make sure that the theme fits the feel of the
song. The emotions just breathe through the music, and for me personally,
that’s a huge help during songwriting. It’s really important—it all needs to go
hand in hand.
5. Cutterred
Flesh is known for its brutal death metal foundation. How do you ensure that
the intensity of your sound doesn’t overpower the storytelling aspect of the
song?
Honestly,
we don’t overthink this. What matters is that the music makes sense to us,
and that we like it.
Everyone experiences it differently—some people will focus on the blast beats,
others on the guitar work, and maybe someone will actually read the lyrics.
But it has to work for us first. We make music the way we feel
it. We don’t try to force or regulate it too much.
6. The
city of Carcosa plays a major role in "The King in Yellow." How did
you incorporate this mythical setting into the narrative of the song, and what
kind of atmosphere did you want to create?
Carcosa is
this imaginary realm—a city—that’s meant to reinforce the atmosphere, mystery,
horror, and mystique. That creeping fear of what might happen.
That danger pours through the written text into the reader—and if they’re not
careful, it can destroy them. I wanted to create an unsettling feeling,
something that might even make the listener reflect a bit :)
7. Your
sixth album, "Love At First Bite," is set to release in 2024. How
does "The King in Yellow" fit into the overall theme or concept of
the album?
The King
in Yellow is a
single from the upcoming album we’d like to release next year. This one should
be a bit different from Love at First Bite.
That album was conceptually inspired by František Kotleta’s Legie saga.
The new record will be darker, and it will explore some of the scariest things
ever written—like a soundtrack to evil. So this song is really a completely
different beast from the tracks on the previous album.
8. The
song touches on a variety of emotional and psychological states. How do you
balance such deep lyrical content with the raw energy of death metal music?
I believe
this is exactly the synergy I was aiming for. It’s important to me that the
music and lyrics align.
I often tweak the lyrics based on the current musical backdrop, and those
emotions give the final flavor.
As we’ve evolved, I find myself wanting to add meaning to the songs—not just
mindless violence or brutality.
Some might say, “Well, it’s death metal,” but for me, it’s important to express
something with the track.
9. In
the 2000s, the band had a very brutal, straightforward approach. How has your
sound evolved over the years, especially with the more cinematic approach in
"The King in Yellow"?
The band
has come a long way since the early days. Our music is completely different
now—not only thanks to improved musicianship and lineup changes, but also
because of the long journey we’ve been through together.
You can hear it on every album—there’s always some shift or evolution.
Nowadays, we’re at a stage where we’re no longer limited by our skills, and we
can play things we wouldn’t have been able to technically manage before.
And hey—we’re getting older too, and I like to think a bit wiser :)
Hundreds of shows played over the years give you a lot of perspective.
10. With
Cutterred Flesh being so active on the touring scene and with the upcoming
release, what can fans expect from your upcoming live shows, particularly with
the new material?
Playing
live is incredibly important to us. We always try to perform as much as
possible and keep pushing things forward.
Over the years, we’ve played hundreds of shows in 23 countries.
Right now, we’re getting ready for a Latin American tour in Guatemala,
Colombia, and Mexico.
We’re also working hard on shows for next year, when we plan to release our
seventh album.
So far, we’ve got gigs shaping up in France, Italy, Turkey, and more.
Anyway—we’ve currently got the best lineup in the band’s history, and we’re
enjoying every show to the fullest :)
And the new songs? They’re going to be absolute carnage!
Thanks
again for the interview and greetings to everyone!
– Jirka & Cutterred Flesh
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