UK underground Metal outfit Tyrannus return with their sophomore studio offering, Mournhold, the follow-up to 2022’s debut release Unslayable. Sound-wise, drawing from ’80s Thrash, atmospheric Black Metal, and elements of post-punk, they say that this time around they have added a “sharper focus and refinement.”
Tyrannus – Mournhold
Release Date: 15 May 2026
Words: Jools Green
Unslayable was influenced by Lovecraftian horror. This may still be the case with Mournhold, as the superb cover art suggests as much but lyrics, often being the wonderfully ambiguous creation that they are, mean there could be other factors cleverly woven into their content too.
So I am not going to make any guesses. However, the superbly striking cover art suggests it still plays a part.
Opening piece Violent Inheritance develops out of a sonic wave. I love the dramatic extremes of pace and intensity across this piece, particularly the way it switches and stops suddenly, delivering icy riffs, mournful melody and even the leadwork is broad ranging, sometimes haunting, other times searing. The vocal delivery is both acidic, scathing and well-protracted. It is a superb listen.
On the next piece, Orbus Non Sufficit (which translates from Latin as the world is not enough), the haunting opening quickly builds into driving blackened riffs and powerfully punctuated scathing vocals. I like the delivery of this piece. It is dark, intense and largely unrelenting, not ebbing back until midway for a spoken element, slightly after which you get a few dramatic drops and builds. The regular backing chants of “Orbus Non Sufficit” add further depth, making another excellent piece.
A heavy chugging driver with an addictive repeat from the offset, Seize The Stars develops heady Thrash overtones and acerbic vocals with dramatic squealing waves of thrashy leadwork. Plunging back midway, this still delivers an ominous intent, even more so as it builds back up to more of that thrashy lead work ebbing out on chants of “Seize the Stars.”
Flesh Eternal takes a different slant with its post-punk influences. I love the loose but catchy bass lines, drum rhythms and haunting keyboard repeat, and you see a different side to the vocals, which are cleaner. The pace switches up midway, and the riffing intensifies, carving a path for a swathe of soaring leadwork ending on sonic noises that fade out towards the end.
Reignfall, the first single released from the album, is an up-tempo Thrashy number that becomes more intense as it progresses. You cannot help but get caught up in those hugely engaging Thrash-rich riffs and squealing leads. It is a heady beast of a track.
Penultimate offering and title track Mournhold emerges out of a wall of riffing, quickly developing pace, punch and a subtly catchy edge. The lyrics are delivered with a well-phrased punch, and the second half lead work elevates the piece and sets it on a frantic up-tempo drive to the close. A well-composed and engaging track.
Final and longest piece at seven and a half minutes, Back To Grey opens on a reflective, haunting, melodic repeat rapidly building into a sharp Thrashy drive that twists and turns alongside dramatic drops. Lyrics are delivered with acidic punch and precision, and the second half develops a subtly blackened melodic feel alongside the sharp, haunting lead work, fading out as it began, but with added impactful drum beats.
Tyrannus release Mournhold on 15 May 2026 via True Cult Records. It will be available as a vinyl in heavyweight transparent deep purple vinyl and include a full colour printed double-sided lyric sheet, a professionally dubbed tape, with full colour on-body tampography print and a two-sided J-card.
First editions will be limited to 50, and reservations are getting snapped up fast. A limited-edition digipak CD and a digital download are available to pre-order at Mournhold | Tyrannus.
