Relentless Mutation

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Relentless Mutation is the third studio album by Canadian technical death metal band Archspire. It was released on September 22, 2017 through Season of Mist. This is the first Archspire album with bassist Jared Smith, who joined after Jaron Evil left in 2014. The album keeps Archspire’s fast, precise style and is a concept record about a telepathic cult called A.U.M. and their experiments on human biology. The runtime is about 30 minutes.

Recording took place in August–September 2016 at Flatline Studios in Denver, and it was produced by Dave Otero. The band released four singles to promote the album: Involuntary Doppelgänger (July 5, 2017), Remote Tumour Seeker (July 28), Human Murmuration (August 22), and Calamus Will Animate (September 18). An instrumental lyric video for Calamus Will Animate was released, and the full album was streamed on September 21, 2017.

Relentless Mutation received strong critical praise. In February 2018 it was nominated for the Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year. Reviewers highlighted the album’s speed, technicality, and energy. Angry Metal Guy called it a standout that takes Archspire to the next level, praising its blend of intensity with neo-classical flair. Other outlets hailed it as one of the best tech death releases of 2017, and it appeared on several year-end lists. It also charted on Billboard’s Heatseekers, Hard Rock, Independent, and Rock charts.

Relentless Mutation sits between The Lucid Collective (2014) and Bleed the Future (2021) in Archspire’s discography. The album runs 30 minutes and 40 seconds.