MALHAVOC will release The Masquerade’s Death on November 13, 2026, through Cursed Blessings Records. The Toronto, Ontario industrial/thrash metal band’s six-track concept album draws on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque Of The Red Death and will be available on LP, CD and digital platforms.
Conceived, recorded and mixed entirely by Jimi LaMort, the album connects Poe’s story of privilege offering no protection from a pandemic with themes of loss, daily drudgery and anxiety about the future. The announcement supplied by EARSPLIT PR describes a return to MALHAVOC’s thrash roots, incorporating horror-film atmospheres, industrial soundscapes and operatic elements.
The recording also brings together musicians from different periods of the band. Original members Dave C., John C. and Jimi C. (LaMort) reunited to re-record the final song they wrote together in 1985. Current members Steve Jelliman, Lee “Sik Dogg” McCormack and LaMort contribute as multi-instrumentalists.
Guests include Connor Lex Grant of Trick Casket, Ian Mumble of Overthrow and original founding member Nigel Williams. Their contributions accompany a project whose conception and recording remained in LaMort’s hands.
The running order is “The Masque Of The Red Death,” “Respectfully Decline,” “The Fact,” “The Harrow,” “Through The Cruel Light” and “Distant Noize.” Preorders are available through the Cursed Blessings Records webshop.
MALHAVOC’s history stretches back to the mid-1980s, with industrial music and samples entering its metal approach beginning in 1985. The press biography traces the band’s early thrash period through Age Of The Dark Renaissance (1985) and Shrine (1986), followed by the industrial metal recordings The Release (1990), Punishments (1991) and Premeditated Murder (1992).
Electronic influences became more prominent on Get Down (1994) and The Lazarus Complex (1996), both produced by Dave Rave Ogilvie. After Get Down, LaMort and Ogilvie produced remixes for Mötley Crüe, Tool, NIN and Monster Magnet. LaMort also contributed production work to Voivod’s Phobos.
The supplied biography emphasizes LaMort’s physically confrontational stage performances alongside his work as a DJ in goth clubs and other nightlife settings. That performance history forms another part of MALHAVOC’s background beyond its changes in recording style.
Work is also underway on two further releases, according to the announcement. One is Anthems For The New Flesh, a David Cronenberg tribute consisting entirely of cover songs. No release date is supplied for that project.