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Six Feet Under the Wrath of God: Voluntary Mortification - CASKET OF FILTH (Track Review) Released: 8/28/26

 



Emerging from the underground of Lansing, Michigan, Voluntary Mortification has carved out a distinct space in heavy music as a Christian/Catholic deathcore and brutal death metal outfit, known for its explicitly Catholic worldview and its focus on self-denial and spiritual warfare. The band, consisting of Conner Luttig on vocals, Jacob Kanclerz on rhythm guitar, Shane Lewis on lead guitar, Jon James on bass, and Giulian Cardillo on drums, pairs crushing, down-tuned instrumentation with themes of penance, decay, and redemption. "Casket of Filth" is a three-minute distillation of that approach: blistering, focused, and unwilling to waste a second of its runtime.

The track opens into a suffocating atmosphere from the first note. The production is thick and organic, giving the mix a room-shaking weight rather than the sterile, over-triggered feel common in modern deathcore. Cardillo and James anchor the rhythm section with a mix of militaristic blast beats, doom-laden crawls, and driving double-bass, keeping the song's momentum unpredictable but controlled. Kanclerz and Lewis weave dissonant, razor-edged riffs underneath, splitting the difference between classic death metal roots and mid-2000s deathcore aggression.

Luttig's vocal performance is the track's high point, shifting between subterranean guttural roars and piercing screeches with real urgency, matching the weight of the lyrics rather than just riding on top of the instrumentation. Lyrically, the song leans into imagery of decay, moral corruption, and final judgment, using that brutality to frame a meditation on spiritual brokenness rather than shock value for its own sake, consistent with the band's stated mission of carrying a message of hope into the darkest corners of the genre. 

"Casket of Filth" is a tight, well-executed cut that should satisfy fans of uncompromising underground metal. Between the punishing breakdowns, the deliberate lyrical themes, and strong musicianship across the board, it's another data point for Voluntary Mortification as one of the more fearless acts working in extreme metal right now.


Check out the lyric video here: 


Go give them a follow on Instagram: Voluntary Mortification
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