American death metal legends Six Feet Under are back with a brand new studio album. Titled Next to Die , the record is set for release on April 24 via Metal Blade Records . Alongside the announcement, the band has unleashed the brutal new single “Unmistakable Smell of Death” and confirmed a massive North American tour for Summer 2026.
For longtime fans of classic death metal, this release marks another major milestone for a band that has been grinding since the mid-1990s.
A New Chapter in the Six Feet Under Legacy
Next to Die will be the 15th full-length album from Six Feet Under , continuing a legacy that began with their 1995 debut Haunted . The band was founded by vocalist Chris Barnes after departing Cannibal Corpse , where he had previously helped shape the early sound of death metal.
The new album features 12 tracks and showcases a creative direction that blends raw aggression with the groove that helped define the band’s early sound.
Guitarist Jack Owen explains that the songwriting approach naturally split the album into two distinct sonic styles.
One half focuses on fast, aggressive death metal , while the other leans into groove-driven riffs reminiscent of classic Six Feet Under material . This dual concept gave the band room to experiment while staying true to their roots.
Barnes emphasized tempo during the writing process, encouraging Owen to craft songs inspired by the BPM and feel of the band’s earlier releases.
The result is an album that balances old-school brutality with thick, crushing grooves , giving longtime fans exactly what they expect while still pushing forward creatively.
“Unmistakable Smell of Death” Sets the Tone
The first single from Next to Die , “Unmistakable Smell of Death,” delivers everything fans love about the band: punishing riffs, relentless pace, and a dark cinematic narrative.
According to Owen, the song started with riffs pulled from his personal archive before being updated and reworked into the finished track.
The story behind the lyrics is pure death metal storytelling. The song follows a killer who toys with a victim before giving them a chance to fight back. The plan backfires, and the victim ultimately turns the tables, killing the attacker in brutal fashion.
The twist brings the song full circle as the “smell of death” ends up belonging to the killer himself.
Production and Recording Details
Next to Die was produced by Barnes and Owen , continuing the creative partnership the pair reignited in 2017.
Mixing and mastering duties were handled by Mark Lewis at MRL Studios in Nashville , known for delivering heavy and polished production across the metal spectrum.
The album follows the band’s 2024 release Killing for Revenge and represents the third record created by Barnes and Owen since their reunion .
Rather than planning themes together, Barnes says both musicians simply write about whatever inspires them at the moment.
That approach has helped keep the songwriting authentic and unpredictable.
Six Feet Under Current Lineup
The modern lineup of Six Feet Under features a devastating roster of veteran musicians:
Chris Barnes – vocals
Jack Owen – guitar
Ray Suhy – lead guitar
Jeff Hughell – bass
Marco Pitruzzella – drums
Together they form one of the tightest and most aggressive versions of the band to date.
Next to Die Tracklist
The album features twelve new tracks:
Approach Your Grave
Destroyed Remains
Mister Blood and Guts
Mutilated Corpse in the Woods
Unmistakable Smell of Death
Wrath and Terror Takes Command
Skin Coffins
Mind Hell
Naked and Dismembered
Grasped from Beyond
Next to Die
Ill Wishes
Vinyl Variants and Pre-Orders
Next to Die will be available on CD, digital, and multiple vinyl variants , including:
180g Black (EU)
Red with Black Smoke (US)
Bone Brown Marbled (EU – limited to 500)
Blue Grey Marbled (EU – limited to 300)
Blood Splatter (EU – limited to 300)
Bone White Green Splatter (EU – limited to 200)
With limited runs across several colors, collectors will likely want to grab these quickly.
Six Feet Under 2026 North American Tour
To support the album, Six Feet Under will launch a North American headlining tour beginning July 8 in Detroit and running through August 11 in Chicago .
Joining them on the road will be Canadian death metal veterans Kataklysm along with technical death metal crushers Wormhole .
Barnes expressed excitement about returning to the road and especially about playing Canada again after many years away.
Fans can expect a set packed with classics and new material from Next to Die .
A Veteran Death Metal Band Still Crushing
Few bands have remained as consistently active as Six Feet Under . With fifteen albums spanning three decades, the band continues to prove that old-school death metal still has plenty of bite.
Next to Die promises a mix of ferocity, groove, and classic horror-driven storytelling , keeping the band firmly planted in the genre they helped build.
The album arrives April 24 through Metal Blade Records , and judging by the first single, the death metal veterans are far from slowing down.
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