There’s a scene in “A Christmas Story” that always made me feel uncomfortable. The family is eating dinner, and Mrs. Parker can’t even get a moment to have her own meal because she must keep getting up to tend to everyone else’s whims. It’s frustrating and irritating, even if it’s played for humor, but it shows the role she is expected to play.

“The Disfigured and the Divine” is the debut album from Emasculator, a death metal band whose members are spread across Czechia and the United States. The album concentrates on the role of women in all societies, the presence of a goddess in mythology, and the plights of motherhood and womanhood. Many times, these responsibilities are minimized by people (ahem, men), and you can see from so much political policy both here and around the world that an effort is being made to minimize women in everyday life. That idea is met with savagery by this bestial unit—vocalist Mallika Sundaramurthy, guitarists Teresa Wallace and Morgehenna, drummer Cierra White—who lay waste to your physical and mental well-being over these seven tracks, which they also use to celebrate women in society and their ability to nourish and care while also remaining fiercely independent.

“Ecstasy in Disseverment (of Self)” dawns as grinding death, ugly growls gurgling and mixing blood with spit. Mauling and beastly, a spiraling attack lays waste, bludgeoning to the final blast. “In Resplendent Terror” wrenches as guitars smear, complete skullduggery eating away at your psyche. Burly terror leans even harder into violent waters, growls consuming flesh, drums splattering, and the scorching assault leading into hell. “Thesmophoric Rites” opens in pure brutality, growls peeling generous amounts of flesh, guitars surging as the power clogs the system. The already sinister pace comes unglued, the band achieving total decimation, the vocals getting even uglier as physical and mental horrors attempt to sever limbs.

“The Unassailable” is a quick piece that’s hypnotic with sitar stirring, chants by Swathi Kalahasti swirling and mesmerizing, the final embers fading. “Eradication of the Asuras” is gutting, growls mauling as speed becomes a major factor, making your head spin. It feels like the bones are rattling in your body, barbarous hell snarling, gruff horror battering to the end. “Age of the Goddess” features guest vocals from Daniela Dahlien Neumanová (the Corona Lantern, Noisebleed, ex-Diligence), as fires seem to spread at will, churning through a blinding wrath, rubbing faces in filth. The punishment keeps unloading as a pace shift makes your neck jerk, retching and clubbing as it collects bones. Closer “Supreme Void of Acephalous Being” is unhinged and vicious, growls scraping as the leads lap, thrashy power flexing its muscles. Guitars blaze as the lower end gets beefier and more explosive, animalistic fire peaking and ending abruptly.

“The Disfigured and the Divine” puts the plight of women worldwide into a brutal package that not only bleeds with pain and pride but also reminds that they are not to be underestimated. Emasculator are on fire during these seven songs, showing their gnarliest blades and opening the necks of anyone who plans to stand in their way. This is a vicious statement, one that should not be underestimated because before you know it, their force will have overtaken yours, and there will be no looking back.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Emasculator

To buy the album, go here: https://nserecords.bigcartel.com/

For more on the label, go here: https://www.newstandardelite.com/