Swiss death metal unit DEFACED return with their second single “Anthem Of Vermin”, taken from their upcoming third studio album “Icon”, set for release on February 12th, 2026 via Massacre Records.
Following the explosive impact of the first single “Culling The Herd”, “Anthem Of Vermin” dives deeper into the oppressive and dystopian world at the core of “Icon”. As the longest and most multifaceted track on the album, the song showcases the full scope of DEFACED’s extreme metal vision – blending relentless death metal aggression, grinding intensity, and evocative black metal atmospheres into one uncompromising statement.
Musically, “Anthem Of Vermin” opens with harmonized riffing over fast double-kick assaults before shifting into crushing grooves and a powerful mid-section steeped in black metal darkness. The track culminates in a dramatic structure that highlights both the band’s technical precision and their passion for atmosphere, crowned by a striking guitar solo by Matze Schiemann.
Lyrically, the song represents a key chapter in “Icon”s conceptual narrative. “Anthem Of Vermin” focuses on the faceless masses – stripped of identity, education and free will – reduced to expendable tools serving an authoritarian regime. Disposable, replaceable, and ultimately insignificant in the eyes of the “Icon,” they exist only to sustain the empire until their final breath.
Guitarist Marco Kessi comments:
“‘Anthem Of Vermin’ is the track that truly represents everything DEFACED stands for today. It’s brutal, atmospheric, dynamic, and uncompromising. If you want to understand ‘Icon’ in a single song, this is it.”
Stream the song HERE: https://save-it.cc/massacre/anthem-of-vermin
After years of meticulous songwriting and two complete pre-production cycles, “Icon” stands as the band’s proudest and most carefully constructed work to date. DEFACED remained fully committed to refining every detail, rewriting and discarding material until each song matched their exact creative vision. Produced, mixed and mastered by Simon Egli and Romano Galli at Hardbeat Studio Eggiwil, the album captures the band’s raw energy with polished clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.
“Icon” also marks the first studio appearance of vocalist Thomas Gertsch, guitarist Matze Schiemann and bassist Michael Gertsch, each bringing new influences that helped shape the album’s expanded sonic palette. While firmly rooted in death metal, the record ventures into grindcore aggression, black metal atmospheres and a pronounced passion for harmonies and ambience, remaining true to the band’s DNA while pushing their sound further than ever before.
Lyrically, the album explores authoritarianism, mass surveillance and psychological manipulation from the perspective of the oppressor himself. The visual interpretation of this dystopian concept was created by acclaimed artist Pär Olofsson, whose artwork perfectly reflects the record’s themes.
DEFACED live:
13.02.2026 CH Burgdorf – Saegegasse release show with Hour of Penance, Thy Gnosis, Shallow Descent
06.06.2026 CH Basel at Valhalla Club with Godless
European tour – venues TBA
23.06.2026 Novi Sad
24.06.2026 Zagreb
25.06.2026 Ljubljana
26.06.2026 Remptemdorrf
27.06.2026 Vicenza
28.06.2026 Bologna
29.06.2026 Torino
13.09.2026 CZ Zelenice, IL Fest
DEFACED are:
Thomas Gertsch – Vocals
Massimiliano Malvassora – Drums
Marco Kessi – Guitars, Backing vocals
Matze Schiemann – Guitars
Michael Gertsch – Bass
DEFACED online:
https://www.defaced.ch/
https://www.facebook.com/defacedswiss
https://www.instagram.com/defaced_swiss/
