EMBODIMENT ANNOUNCE NEW EP CRYPTOMORPH – OUT 24th JULY 2026

EMBODIMENT ANNOUNCE NEW EP CRYPTOMORPH – OUT 24 JULY 2026

“10/10 from me.” – Matt Heafy (Trivium)

Bristol Extreme Metallers, Embodiment return with their brand new EP ‘Cryptomorph’, which marks Embodiment’s first release since 2020’s Palingenesis and signals the beginning of a new chapter for the band. Introducing guitarist Sam Godding and drummer Will Pearson to the line-up, the EP brings fresh influences and renewed energy to the group’s creative process. Cryptomorph will be released on all streaming platforms on Friday 24th July 2026. To celebrate the launch of the EP, the band have released the second single ‘Beneath The Skin’.

Formed in Bristol in 2012, Embodiment have spent over a decade forging a distinct identity within the UK technical metal scene. Combining the precision and intensity of technical death metal with groove, melody, and memorable songwriting, the band have developed a sound that balances technical complexity with lasting impact.

Over the years, Embodiment have appeared at Bloodstock Festival, Beermageddon, Tech-Fest, Mammothfest, and Southwest Heavyfest, while sharing stages with internationally recognised artists including Decapitated, The Black Dahlia Murder, Suffocation, Car Bomb, The Faceless, and To The Grave.

Following the release of Palingenesis in 2020, the band entered a period of significant change brought about by the pandemic, line-up changes, and personal circumstances. Rather than hindering their progress, these challenges became a catalyst for growth and reinvention. The addition of guitarist and vocalist Sam Godding (ex-Ascaris) and drummer Will Pearson (ex-Body Harvest, Dies Holocaustum, Rannoch) marked the beginning of a new creative chapter, pushing Embodiment’s songwriting and musical scope further than ever before.

The result is Cryptomorph, the band’s first release in six years. Named after the concept of hidden transformation, the EP explores themes of deception, fractured perception, psychological struggle, and resistance. Musically, it expands upon Embodiment’s established technical foundations while introducing stronger melodic hooks, dynamic vocal arrangements, and some of the heaviest and fastest material in the band’s catalogue to date.

EP Information

Title: Cryptomorph

Release Date: 24 July 2026

Track Listing

Jeopardy In Idolatry
Resonance Cascade
Beneath The Skin
As They Spread Their Infection

FFO: Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitation, Decapitated & Revocation

The band comments that “Cryptomorph explores the collapse of trust, perception, and internal stability in a world shaped by distortion and control.” Throughout the EP, themes of deception, psychological pressure, and systemic manipulation intersect with personal struggles involving trauma, identity, and mental endurance.

Cryptomorph reflects the erosion of certainty, whether placed in authority, ideology, or personal belief, and the destabilising realisation that accepted truths may be constructed, manipulated, or corrupted. As this external disillusionment takes hold, it gradually becomes internalised, manifesting as intrusive thoughts, emotional strain, and psychological conflict.

Across its four tracks, the mind becomes both battleground and burden, with clarity continually challenged by fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Despite its darker subject matter, Cryptomorph ultimately centres on resistance: confronting deception, enduring internal struggles, rejecting passivity in the face of manipulation, and recognising awareness and confrontation as essential steps towards reclaiming personal agency. Showcasing a revitalised line-up and renewed creative focus, Cryptomorph represents both a natural progression and the beginning of a new era for Embodiment.

All music was written and performed by Embodiment; lyrics were written by the band’s singer, Harry Smithson. Drums were recorded at The NGM Trust, Bristol, with Gave Keeler as engineer and producer. Production and mixing for the EP were by Embodiment’s own Finn Maxwell. This was then mastered by Sine-Post Audio. Artwork was created by Pete Heyes (@Peteybobs).

With a further release already planned for 2027 and an extensive programme of live activity ahead, including a UK tour, Embodiment continue to demonstrate that technicality and memorable songwriting can coexist without compromise.

To celebrate the official launch of their EP, the band have released their new song ‘Beneath The Skin’.