Released on June 28, 2024, Manual Manic Procedures is the latest offering from Cleveland-based death metal outfit 200 Stab Wounds. This album showcases the band’s evolution, blending raw brutality with refined musicianship. Featuring tracks like “Hands of Eternity” and “Manual Manic Procedures,” the record delivers an intense, visceral experience. With Steve Buhls’ relentless vocals and guitar work, the album solidifies the band’s reputation for unapologetic, dynamic death metal. Prepare for a sonic assault that leaves a lasting impression.

Overview of the Band “200 Stab Wounds”

Cleveland-based death metal outfit 200 Stab Wounds has carved a name for itself with its relentless brutality and dynamic sound. Formed with a passion for extreme music, the band delivers raw, unapologetic death metal that resonates with fans of the genre. Their intense performances and cohesive songwriting showcase a group deeply committed to their craft. With albums like Manual Manic Procedures, released on June 28, 2024, the band continues to solidify its reputation as a force in modern death metal, blending technical prowess with visceral aggression.

Release Date and Background

Manual Manic Procedures was released on June 28, 2024, marking a significant milestone for 200 Stab Wounds. The album reflects the band’s commitment to raw, unfiltered death metal, showcasing their evolution in sound and intensity. Recorded with a focus on capturing the band’s live energy, the album was produced to deliver a visceral listening experience. Its release has been highly anticipated by fans of the genre, solidifying the band’s reputation for relentless brutality and technical precision in their craft.

Key Features of the Album

Manual Manic Procedures is 200 Stab Wounds’ latest album, delivering raw, unfiltered death metal with standout tracks like “Hands of Eternity” and the titular song. Steve Buhls’ relentless vocals and guitar work, alongside the band’s increased cohesion, make this record a testament to their evolving brutality and dynamic musicianship.

Tracklist and Song Highlights

The album Manual Manic Procedures features a relentless tracklist, including “Hands of Eternity,” “Gross Abuse,” “Manual Manic Procedures,” and “Release the Stench.” Each song delivers unfiltered aggression, with “Hands of Eternity” showcasing the band’s ability to blend technicality with raw intensity. “Gross Abuse” stands out for its chaotic, pummeling riffs, while the title track highlights Steve Buhls’ visceral vocals and the band’s refined yet brutal approach to death metal. The album’s consistency and dynamic energy make it a standout in the genre.

Lyrical Themes and Musical Style

Manual Manic Procedures delves into dark, violent themes, with lyrics exploring mortality, chaos, and raw human brutality. Musically, the album delivers a relentless assault of technical death metal, blending intricate riffs with pulverizing rhythms. Steve Buhls’ guttural vocals add a layer of intensity, while the band’s refined yet savage approach creates a cohesive, devastating sound. The album’s unapologetic style and lyrical bleakness underscore its reputation as a brutal yet polished offering in the death metal scene. Its raw energy captivates listeners from start to finish.

Production and Vinyl Release

Manual Manic Procedures was mastered for vinyl to ensure optimal sound quality, with a focus on maintaining the album’s raw intensity. The vinyl release features a gatefold design, enhancing the visual experience. Available in multiple color variants, it appeals to both collectors and audiophiles. The meticulous mastering process preserves the album’s dynamic range, delivering a powerful listen on wax. A must-have for fans of extreme music;

Mastering Process for Vinyl

The mastering process for the vinyl release of Manual Manic Procedures was meticulously executed to ensure optimal sound quality. The audio was carefully prepared to translate well on vinyl, considering the format’s unique characteristics. Engineers focused on maintaining the album’s raw intensity while optimizing dynamic range to prevent inner groove distortion. Specific equalization techniques were applied to control low frequencies and preserve clarity. The mastering aimed to balance the band’s raw brutality with refined detail, ensuring a powerful and immersive listening experience on vinyl. This process was crucial in delivering a high-quality audio experience that aligns with the band’s artistic vision and the expectations of their audience.

Album Artwork and Packaging

The vinyl release of Manual Manic Procedures features striking artwork that reflects the album’s raw intensity. The cover design incorporates dark, hand-drawn visuals with muted color tones, evoking the brutal essence of the music. Minimalist yet cohesive, the artwork aligns with the band’s aesthetic, creating a visually engaging experience for listeners.

The packaging includes a gatefold design with lyric inserts and liner notes. Each vinyl pressing is housed in a heavyweight jacket, ensuring durability and a premium feel. The attention to detail in the artwork and packaging enhances the overall listening experience, making it a standout collectible for fans of 200 Stab Wounds.

Reception and Reviews

Manual Manic Procedures has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its raw intensity and technical precision. Critics praise the album’s unrelenting energy and cohesive composition.

Fans have embraced the release, highlighting its dynamic playing and Steve Buhls’ standout performance. The album is celebrated as a benchmark in modern death metal.

Critical Acclaim and Fan Response

Manual Manic Procedures has been met with enthusiastic praise from critics and fans alike. The album’s relentless energy and technical prowess have solidified its place as a standout release in 2024.

Steve Buhls’ commanding vocals and the band’s cohesive performance have drawn particular acclaim. Fans highlight the album’s raw intensity and the vinyl’s pristine production quality, making it a must-listen for death metal enthusiasts.

Comparison with Previous Works

Manual Manic Procedures marks a significant evolution for 200 Stab Wounds, showcasing refined songwriting and tighter execution compared to earlier releases. The album’s polished production and dynamic range highlight the band’s growth, with Steve Buhls’ vocals and instrumentation standing out as more cohesive and impactful than ever before.

Fans and critics note that while the band’s signature brutality remains intact, the album’s experimental elements and lyrical depth set it apart from their previous works, solidifying their reputation as innovators in the death metal scene.

Live Performances and Promotion

200 Stab Wounds is set to embark on a high-energy tour in support of Manual Manic Procedures, delivering their signature visceral intensity to fans across major cities, including Chicago and New York. Their live performances promise a visually striking experience, blending chaotic riffs with immersive stage visuals, ensuring an unforgettable encounter for audiences.

Upcoming Tour Dates

200 Stab Wounds will kick off their Manual Manic Procedures tour in late 2024, hitting major cities across the U.S. and Europe. Key dates include October 15 in Chicago at Reggie’s, November 2 in New York at Webster Hall, and December 10 in Los Angeles at The Roxy. The band will bring their signature intensity, supported by acts like Gatecreeper and Sanguisugabogg. Fans can expect a visually and aurally devastating experience, blending raw energy with precise execution. Tickets are available now via their official website, with limited VIP packages offering exclusive merch and meet-and-greets.

Visual and Stage Presence

200 Stab Wounds deliver a visually intense performance, with a dark, chaotic stage setup that complements their musical ferocity. The band’s attire and menacing presence amplify the raw energy, while strobing lights enhance the immersive experience. Steve Buhls’ commanding stage presence draws the audience into the album’s themes, creating a haunting yet captivating atmosphere that aligns perfectly with the brutality of “Manual Manic Procedures.” The crowd is left mesmerized, fully engulfed in the sensory assault.

Band Members and Collaboration

Steve Buhls shines as a central figure, delivering relentless vocals and guitar work. Collaboration within the band enhances their cohesive sound, driving “Manual Manic Procedures” to new heights.

Steve Buhls Role in the Album

Steve Buhls emerges as a central figure in Manual Manic Procedures, delivering guttural, relentless vocals that define the album’s ferocity. His guitar work is equally pivotal, crafting riffs that balance technical precision with raw aggression. Buhls’ leadership extends beyond instrumentation, as his vision and collaborative spirit drive the band’s cohesive sound. His blood-drenched guitar tone and visceral performances are hallmark elements, making his contribution indispensable to the album’s identity and intensity.

Collaboration with Other Artists

While Manual Manic Procedures primarily showcases the band’s internal cohesion, there are no prominent collaborations with external artists on this album. The band’s self-sufficiency shines, as they handle all instrumentation and vocals internally. This approach underscores their tight-knit dynamic and shared vision. However, the mastering process for the vinyl release involved external expertise to ensure optimal sound quality, enhancing the album’s brutal sonic impact. This minimal external collaboration highlights the band’s ability to deliver a polished, cohesive record without compromising their raw intensity.

Lyrics and Songwriting Process

Lyrical Themes and Musical Style

The album’s lyrics delve into themes of aggression, darkness, and chaos, reflecting the band’s brutal death metal roots. Musically, it balances technicality with raw intensity, creating a visceral experience.

Inspiration Behind the Lyrics

The lyrics of Manual Manic Procedures draw inspiration from themes of aggression, darkness, and personal turmoil, reflecting the band’s exploration of raw human emotions. Tracks like “Hands of Eternity” and “Manual Manic Procedures” delve into visceral experiences, blending brutality with introspection. Steve Buhls’ approach to songwriting captures the intensity of modern life, translating it into a sonic and lyrical assault that resonates with listeners seeking cathartic expression.

Songwriting Techniques

200 Stab Wounds employs a meticulous approach to songwriting, blending raw aggression with structured composition. Tracks like “Hands of Eternity” showcase intricate riffs and tempo shifts, while “Manual Manic Procedures” highlights the band’s ability to craft cohesive, brutal arrangements. Steve Buhls’ vocal delivery and lyrical directness add intensity, creating a visceral listening experience. The band’s techniques reflect a balance between chaos and precision, elevating their death metal sound to new heights. This album exemplifies their mastery of dynamic songwriting.

Genre and Musical Influence

Manual Manic Procedures blends classic death metal aggression with chaotic, technical riffing. The album’s raw yet refined sound reflects influences from both traditional and modern death metal.

Death Metal Elements

Manual Manic Procedures embodies the raw brutality of death metal with pulverizing riffs, relentless blast beats, and Steve Buhls’ guttural, blood-drenched vocals. The album’s chaotic yet precise execution highlights the band’s mastery of the genre, delivering an unrelenting assault on the senses. Its intense, visceral soundscapes and technical prowess pay homage to death metal’s roots while carving out a distinctive, modern identity. This record is a testament to the genre’s enduring ferocity and sonic complexity.

Experimental Sounds

Beneath its brutal exterior, Manual Manic Procedures explores experimental textures, incorporating dissonant melodies and unexpected tempo shifts. The band’s dynamic interplay and technical prowess allow for moments of unpredictability, blending chaos with calculated precision. Tracks like “Gross Abuse” showcase this duality, where raw death metal meets atmospheric layers, creating a soundscape that feels both familiar and innovative. This approach not only highlights the band’s versatility but also pushes the boundaries of traditional death metal, offering a fresh yet unapologetically intense listening experience.

Album Impact and Legacy

Manual Manic Procedures has cemented 200 Stab Wounds as a formidable force in death metal, leaving an indelible mark on the genre with its fearless intensity and raw power.

Impact on the Music Scene

The release of Manual Manic Procedures has revitalized the death metal scene, showcasing 200 Stab Wounds as a groundbreaking act; The album’s raw intensity and technical prowess have drawn critical acclaim, inspiring a new wave of extreme music enthusiasts. Its unapologetic sound has not only solidified the band’s reputation but also influenced emerging artists, setting a new standard for brutality and musicality in the genre. Tracks like “Hands of Eternity” and “Manual Manic Procedures” resonate deeply with fans, cementing the album’s place in death metal history.

Future Prospects for the Band

With the success of Manual Manic Procedures, 200 Stab Wounds is poised for continued growth. The band is likely to expand its fanbase and influence, potentially leading to collaborations and festival appearances. Their raw, unfiltered sound positions them as a driving force in death metal’s future. As they tour and create new music, their ability to blend brutality with technical precision will likely inspire a new generation of metal artists, solidifying their legacy in the genre.

Where to Purchase the Album

Manual Manic Procedures is available on platforms like Bandcamp and the official US Store. Physical copies, including vinyl, can be purchased through these outlets, ensuring accessibility for fans worldwide.

Online Platforms

The album Manual Manic Procedures is readily available on various online platforms. Fans can purchase digital copies and vinyl editions through Bandcamp and the official US Store. These platforms offer exclusive bundles and pre-order options, ensuring a seamless purchasing experience. Additionally, major music retailers like Amazon and indie metal storefronts carry the vinyl, catering to both casual listeners and collectors. This widespread availability ensures that enthusiasts worldwide can access the album with ease and convenience.

Physical Copies and Vinyl

The album Manual Manic Procedures is available in high-quality vinyl formats, catering to both collectors and audiophiles. The vinyl release includes standard and special editions, each featuring meticulous mastering to enhance the listening experience. Fans can purchase physical copies directly from Bandcamp, the official US Store, and select indie record shops. The packaging includes stunning album artwork, making it a must-have for enthusiasts of physical media. These vinyl editions are a testament to the band’s dedication to delivering a premium product to their loyal fanbase.