Alcatraz Line up: 2024

Mental Cruelty have undergone an amazing musical evolution since their beginnings in 2014. More than enough reason for our colleagues at Summer Breeze to second the band to Alcatraz. The Germans forced open the door to success with brutal slam tinged with a whiff of deathcore but before long their sound evolved into what could be called symphonic deathcore. On their latest album Zwielicht’ (2023) they’ve foregone all frills to let the power of the more melodic songwriting take centre stage. Think of the brutality of Lorna Shore coupled with the frivolous exuberance of Ensiferum, seasoned with a smidgen of spheric sequins in Mare Cognitum style. But beware of powder burns because Mental Cruelty remains delicious dangerous. “Powered by Summer Breeze Open Air”