Photo by Derek Bremner
Fleshwork, the crushing new full-length from UK mathcore trio PUPIL SLICER, is out now and streaming on Prosthetic Records!
Describing Fleshwork as “conceptual” but specifically not a concept album, PUPIL SLICER leans into creating an all-encompassing industrial hellscape; a perfect setting to explore the societal machinations that dehumanize and devalue the poor, disabled, queer, and people of color for political and financial gain. Drawing on personal experience, vocalist and guitarist Kate Davies details the disconnect and discomfort of navigating this life, and the substantial human, day-to-day cost of doing so.
Louder Sound crowns Fleshwork, “…one of the most diverse, engrossing and essential heavy albums of 2025.” Stereogum gushes of the title track alone, “The production is thick and colossal, the riffs sound like tidal waves coming down on your head, and the little bits of melody only make the attack that much sweeter.” Writes Kerrang, “Melding traditional genres with a corrosive fluidity not meant to be unlocked, every moment feels as fresh as a bath in battery acid.” Devolution Magazine champions, “…some of the widest, most forceful and satisfying grooves of 2025,” while Female Fronted Power notes, “PUPIL SLICER once again proves why they are at the top of the modern mathcore pyramid. They made another album that fills you with energy while avoiding clichés.” Adds Blabbermouth, “Chaotic, angry times call for chaotic, angry music. PUPIL SLICER have read the room and have spent the last few years churning out some of the most brutal and bewildering music of the decade… Fervently original from the start, Kate Davies and their comrades occupy a unique position in the UK’s diverse, heavy music scene, where hardcore, metal, shoegaze and noise are forcibly united in a shower of shredded throats and blistered fingers.”
In celebration of the release, today the band drops a video for “Sacrosanct.”
WatchPUPIL SLICER’s “Sacrosanct” HERE.
Watch PUPIL SLICER’s previously released video for “Fleshwork” HERE and “Nomad” HERE.
Fleshwork is out now on CD, LP, and digitally. Find ordering options HERE.
The 2025 iteration of PUPIL SLICER ushers in new talent in the form of bass player, Luke Booth, whose contributions rounded out the writing process neatly. This rejuvenated lineup sought to retain the melodic elements of the band’s sophomore album Blossom while simultaneously pushing their sonic boundaries to the extreme. The result is a more organic sound, energized by incandescent fury that embraces imperfections as a sign of life. Recording and mixing took place in early 2025 at Nø Studio in Manchester with producer Joe Clayton at the helm. Grant Berry handled mastering.
Atop a solid rhythmic foundation courtesy of drummer Josh Andrews, PUPIL SLICER has crafted a primal yet intricate display of aggression. Relentless industrial sounds give way to melody and earworm-worthy hooks that endure. While the band continues to draw influence from the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Oathbreaker, as well as lyrical and tonal inspiration from film, anime and video games (specifically Chainsaw Man, Mouthwashing and NieR among others), on Fleshwork they’ve created a monster entirely of their own design. This beast could only have been formed by the minds and bodies of those who have already walked the treacherous, dystopian path that they are now illuminating for others.
PUPIL SLICER:
Kate Davies – vocals, guitar
Josh Andrews – drums
Luke Booth – bass, backing vocals
“Chaotic, angry times call for chaotic, angry music. PUPIL SLICER have read the room and have spent the last few years churning out some of the most brutal and bewildering music of the decade… Fervently original from the start, Kate Davies and their comrades occupy a unique position in the UK’s diverse, heavy music scene, where hardcore, metal, shoegaze and noise are forcibly united in a shower of shredded throats and blistered fingers.” – Blabbermouth
“…one of the most diverse, engrossing and essential heavy albums of 2025…Roping in hardcore, mathcore, doom, black metal, industrial, post-rock…PUPIL SLICER do it all in style on new album Fleshwork.” – Louder Sound
“Melding traditional genres with a corrosive fluidity not meant to be unlocked, every moment feels as fresh as a bath in battery acid.” – Kerrang
“… it sounds massive… The production is thick and colossal, the riffs sound like tidal waves coming down on your head, and the little bits of melody only make the attack that much sweeter.” – Stereogum
“When PUPIL SLICER burst onto the scene in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic circa 2021, they were a breath of fresh air, bringing a varied set of influences alongside a huge love for Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan… On Fleshwork, they’re continuing to try new things while retaining the sharp edges, mathy time signatures, and Meshuggah-esque chugs.” – Decibel Magazine
“…an ominous dirge with bits of metal, hardcore, and industrial all swirling together throughout these four minutes and 10 seconds of darkness. It’s less chaotic than PUPIL SLICER’s early mathcore material, but no less intense.” – BrooklynVegan on “Fleshwork”
“The songs are full of aggressive hooks, sharp melodic colours, and industrialised venom. PUPIL SLICER have mechanised their damage dealing, but without sacrificing the heart of the music. It’s feeling-rich, textured, layered with expressive sounds, and awash with engaging content, yet also knows how to be absolutely savage. The album sounds massive.” – Wonderbox Metal
“While it may be too soon to know for sure, it truly feels like Fleshwork is the final culmination of everything PUPIL SLICER have been working towards thus far. The abrasion of Mirrors, fused with the creativity of Blossom, all while boasting a humble thirty-six-minute length, results in the UK trio’s most impressive offering to date.” – Boolin Tunes
“Featuring a more primal and aggressive sound, PUPIL SLICER still manages to maintain some semblance of groove…” – MetalSucks on “Fleshwork”
“PUPIL SLICER once again proves why they are at the top of the modern mathcore pyramid. They made another album that fills you with energy while avoiding clichés.” – Female Fronted Power
“…nine tracks of vitriolic ire at the continuing state of a world that no longer places value in human life, reducing everything – and everyone – down to an entry on a spreadsheet. A concept album of sorts, Fleshwork is PUPIL SLICER out to slay sacred cows and protected political classes.” – The Razors Edge
“…a fascinating band whose message resonates deeply… If that’s not enough for you, the sheer amount of rage and impressive musicianship might do the trick. There’s a ridiculous level of mathcore chaos here, but it’s all done with calculated intention. Ironically, such brutality requires elegance and restraint – and that’s exactly what we’ve got here. Enjoyable, grotesque music.” – Metal Eclipse Reviews
“The monolithic riffs of Fleshwork are well established in this reviewer’s brain as being some of the widest, most forceful and satisfying grooves of 2025.” – Devolution Magazine
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