Stream LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s “I HAIL I” HERE.
Chicago’s savage trio LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR will deliver their monstrous fifth album – their first in sixteen years – unveiling the merciless I HAIL I, confirmed for release through The Grind-House Records on May 1st.
Formed in 2003 and signed to Southern Lord Recordings just one month after their first show, the death-doom metal warriors LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR have released four LPs, three EPs, and an array of singles, all interconnected with concepts based on the bloodier tales of Greek mythology. The band has toured extensively across North America and Europe, crushing all in their path with their own brand of heavy fucking metal that has been likened to being beat to death with a spiked club. In the words of Maximum Metal, “If there is a [band] heavier than this, then I have simply never heard it.”
While the past several years saw the band emerging with several new singles, they’ve not released an album since 2010’s acclaimed Evil Power. That all changes this year with the incoming I HAIL I. LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s lineup on this merciless new record sees founding guitarist/vocalist Steven Rathbone (7000 Dying Rats) reunited with longtime drummer Chris Wozniak (Cöküs, Vanishment) and joined by new bassist Sanford Parker (Twilight, Minsk, Black Cross Hotel).
I HAIL I dispatches ten tracks in barely thirty minutes, including a monstrous reenvisioning of Ethel Cain’s “Family Tree.” The album was recorded and mixed by longtime recording engineer, and now bassist, Sanford Parker (Yob, Eyehategod, Darkthrone) in Chicago at Jamdek Studios and Hypercube, and is completed with stark cover art by Dieofsuffering666.
I HAIL I marks the second album released independently on the band’s The Grind-House Records. The label’s first release was LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s Evil Power, the band’s best-selling album, and features their most popular and most streamed song, “Let’s Kill These Motherfuckers,” hailed by Henry Rollins as, “One of the greatest songs I have ever heard.”
The new album’s title track arrives as the lead single, with Rathbone stating, “The title track ‘I HAIL I’ is a rebellious declaration from Prometheus to defy the Gods and bring fire to humanity. This song is what LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR is all about: A loud and proud, punch in the guts. Meant to be played at maximum volume.”
Dispatch your enemies with LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s “I HAIL I” as the soundtrack, the song streaming at Bandcamp HERE, Spotify HERE, and Apple Music HERE.
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR will independently release I HAIL I digitally on May 1st, with physical versions to follow. Watch for preorders, a new video, and more to post shortly.
I HAIL I – Track Listing:
1. Emperor Of Dis
2. I HAIL I
3. Enthroned In Violence
4. Fucked Inside Out
5. Deepest Hell
6. Saturnus Reign
7. Prowler Twin Sister
8. Family Tree (Ethel Cain Cover)
9. Vulture Worship
10. Tartarus Apocalypse
The band recently joined the roster at Waste Management Booking. Agency co-founder Stavros Giannopoulos (The Atlas Moth, Motherless) explains, “When starting Waste Management Booking, the idea was to work with bands who we not only loved but felt the world would love as well. LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR was always a band we had at the top of that list. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of their new record and their legendary history, not only in Chicago but worldwide.”
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR is making their second appearance at Maryland Deathfest, on Thursday, May 21st, performing at Nevermore Hall with Bongzilla, Rwake, Avernus, and Black Lung. The band has also just booked a hometown record release show on July 10th with Primal Code, Inoculation, and Motherless. Additional tour dates will be announced shortly.
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR Live:
5/21/2026 Nevermore Hall – Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Bongzilla, Rwake, Avernus, Black Lung
7/10/2026 The Hideout – Chicago, IL * Record Release Show w/ Primal Code, Inoculation, Motherless
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR:
Steven Rathbone – guitar, vocals, synth
Chris Wozniak – drums
Sanford Parker – bass
https://lairoftheminotaur.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/lair.of.the.minotaur
https://www.teepublic.com/user/grindhouseinc
Source: EARSPLIT PR
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