Brand of Sacrifice: The Deathcore You Didn't Know You Needed Until Now

Many people who don’t listen to metal probably hear the word ‘deathcore’ and run for the hills. I am personally newer to the heavier subgenres of metal and have decided to branch out a little further than metalcore. Recently, I was introduced to a fairly newer band called Brand of Sacrifice. The band has been assigned a few various subgenres according to the internet including: technical brutal deathcore, symphonic… even manga deathcore (yes, the Japanese literature — read on to find out why).

I had the pleasure of talking with lead vocalist Kyle Anderson about the past, present and future of Brand of Sacrifice. The band consists of Kyle Anderson (lead vocals), Michael [Leo] Valeri (lead guitar), Liam Beeson (rhythm guitar), Dallas Bricker (bass), and Mike Caputo (drums). Brand of Sacrifice began as a side project in 2018 for some of the guys who were primarily in a band called The Afterimage at the time. Though unexpected, the side project blew up and soon enough became their priority. The band is currently split between Toronto, Connecticut and Texas, but mostly based in Toronto, Canada.

Kyle Anderson of Brand of Sacrifice. (Photo: Artist Twitter)

Anime plays a huge role in shaping the band’s sound and over all feel. The name “Brand of Sacrifice” originates from the Berserk manga. Instrumental inspiration stems from a variety of sources such as cross-genre artists and video game soundtracks, specifically noting Halo as a big influence. “We have a lot of electronic and cinematic elements, so EDM and dubstep music are definitely included. From the metal side, it’s bands like Gojira and your standard deathcore bands like Suicide Silence… the classics,” says Anderson. He continues, “We try to add some flavors from different genres. I know I especially like to get ideas from hip hop — vocal patterns and things like that. We’re sort of all over the place which helps us invent our own space in the scene.”

Brand of Sacrifice has a sound that is incomparable to most others. There is a chaotic element that nestles in perfectly with choir choruses and cinematic components. Though complex, their sound has a dissectible depth that makes it a truly unique listening experience. There is a deep appreciation for music that has so many tailored layers like Brand of Sacrifice. Add these guys to your next workout playlist, close your eyes and hit the treadmill. Your imagination will send you off to Resident Evil or something of the likes, with the perfect soundtrack accompanying you as you run for your life, figuratively speaking.

The band’s latest single “Demon King” is a heavy tune with turbo speed which features Ryo Kinoshita from Japanese deathcore band Crystal Lake. Anderson, a fan of Crystal Lake for years, really admired the vocal work Kinoshita has done with the band and wanted him in on the track. He attributes the deep growls sometimes heard in Crystal Lake as the fuel to getting him to collaborate. “If he could showcase that heavier style, I thought it would be a great fit,” says Anderson. Thanks to the modern world of social media, Kinoshita was just a message away: “I slid into his DMs on instagram. He replied instantly and was super into the idea. We mapped out what parts he would do and he sent it back right away. We hope to meet in person soon — we’ve been to Japan and would love to go back.” You can stream “Demon King” here.

Not only does Anderson front the band, he also had his hands in another craft — custom merch. Bandmate Valeri, along with Anderson, began a stellar individualized tie-dye clothing line called Shibori Threads. The idea came about in the middle of the pandemic when times and cashflow were slow. They realized their tie-dye merch always sold out the quickest so they decided to bank on its popularity. From t-shirts to hoodies to sweatpants, Shibori Threads boasts a one-of-a-kind, eye catching tie dye techniques accompanied by various band logos. The metal streetwear brand has had multiple artist collaborations including Spiritbox, Bad Omens, Crown The Empire, Dance Gavin Dance, Killswitch Engage, The Devil Wears Prada, Beartooth and more.

Shibori Threads x Spiritbox collaboration merch. (Photo: Instagram)

Brand of Sacrifice will be hitting the stage with Dayseeker supporting Spiritbox on their first ever headlining SoCal show at The House of Blues in Anaheim on August 24th. Anderson goes way back with Spiritbox’s guitarist, Mike Stringer: “I’ve known Mike since about 2010. I played in a community center gym with him, so we’ve been friends for a while now.” As if we couldn’t anticipate the show any more… it is completely sold out. We are thrilled to be covering the show, so check back later this month for a full feature review and (what we know will be) one gnarly photo gallery. The guys will be hitting the road at the end of October with a stop in South Carolina and Virginia before heading overseas for a string of European dates. We hope to see more of Brand of Sacrifice back in the states in the near future.

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Post and interview by Nikki Phillips [ Instagram | Twitter ]

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