DEFILED Announce Ninth Album 'Altered State'

Photo by Fukcrec Hbk

Having been active practitioners since 1992, Defiled are masters of the vile art known as death metal. The Tokyo legends have shared the stage with Morbid Angel, Mayhem, Cannibal Corpse and Incantation. However, these grizzled veterans are neither relics nor custodians for the old-school. Their upcoming new album, Altered State, unleashes a dizzying blast of death metal straight from the future.

Today, Defiled are announcing their new album, Altered State, with a music video for its lead single. By continuing to take the genre in unexpected directions, on “Portal”, the band unlock a head-banging new dimension.

“Altered State is an expansion of our last two albums, The Highest Level and Horror Beyond Horror”, Defiled founding member and guitarist Yusuke Sumita says. “Like many other bands, our musical roots are heavily influenced by early ‘90s death metal and ‘80s thrash and hardcore, however our interpretation is different and has branched off from the current scene. On Altered State, there are many catchy hooks, but tricky progressive rhythms and song structures can be found as well. The album may not be understandable after a few listens but it taps into a blind spot that many bands have missed”.

Watch the music video for “Portal” on the Season of Mist YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/EIiQ4IV_AD8?si=yatV0su-zAKsnkDi

Altered State comes out June 12, 2026 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/defiledalteredstate

Available formats

CD Digipack
12” Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12” Vinyl Gatefold (Transparent Yellowish-Green)

After hearing them pound out three albums in four years, metalheads would be forgiven for assuming Defiled had reached the highest level, that there were no horrors left for them to reveal. Altered State quickly quiets any further foolish suspicions. “Portal” opens with Sumita and fellow axesmith Shinichiro Hamada shredding through a traditional assortment of dirty and demonic riffs, only for the rhythm section of bassist Takachika Nakajima and drummer Keisuke Hamada to break into a series of tempo shifts that prove more elusive than the truth. While the band are still guided by the underground spirit, the new single from their upcoming album delves deeper into their psychic perception of our warped reality.      

“Perpetual hell awaits”, Shinichiro Hamada growls. With one last sharp twist, he and his bandmates ascend to a higher plane of death metal existence.

Hear “Portal” and other songs from Altered State during Defiled’s Japanese summer tour, as well as their upcoming shows with Mayhem and Incantation.

Defiled 2026 Spring Shows

Defiled 2026 Altered State Japanese Tour

Tracklist