PSYCHO-FRAME, one of the most ferocious and rapidly rising bands in modern deathcore, is making their way to Red Flag on Saturday, August 2nd. With their highly anticipated full-length debut Salvation Laughs in the Face of a Grieving Mother dropping July 25 via SharpTone Records, the band is poised to bring their signature chaos and intensity to the stage—and to an entire genre.
PSYCHO-FRAME delivers a raw, unfiltered take on modern deathcore with their debut album, drawing influence from classic American death metal while channeling a chaotic, present-day urgency. Their sound is deliberate and aggressive, built on tightly executed riffs, relentless drumming, and vocals that refuse to hold anything back.
What began as a casual collaboration between guitarist/producer Hunter Young and vocalist Mike Sugars has quickly become one of deathcore’s most talked-about bands. “Hunter and I were both getting off tours from our respective bands, playing games together a lot, and just got to talking,” Sugars says. “The more that happened the more we said, ‘Let’s make something that we actually want to hear.’”
That something became a wave of buzzworthy early releases, including 24 HOURS LEFT, REMOTE GOD SEEKER, and AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL, which landed them on Revolver’s “Top 5 Deathcore Bands Right Now.”
Mike Sugars of PSYCHO-FRAME joined Dale, Anthony, The Mox, and McVay on the Vulgar Display of Podcast to talk all things heavy. From the rise of PSYCHO-FRAME’s aggressive sound and intense live shows to the band’s rapid growth in the hardcore and metal scenes, Mike gives an inside look at their creative process, lyrical themes, and what fans can expect next. Brought to you by The Barn Media, this episode dives deep into the raw energy and unrelenting passion behind one of the most exciting acts in heavy music today.
The lineup has since solidified with the addition of Colter Cuthbertson on vocals, Aiden “Dave” Bessent on guitar, and Leo McClain on drums. Together, they spent 2024 recording the new album with a focus on clarity and heaviness. “This album feels like accomplishing everything we wanted to achieve sonically since the band’s inception just a short couple years ago,” Sugars adds. “I’m confident that anyone who’s been with us since the beginning, or newcomers that listen to the back catalogue, will see that we’ve honed in on our vision for P-F.”
Colter’s contributions also mark a shift in lyrical direction. “Lyrically this record spans from borderline satirical hyper-aggression to genuine, sentimental and personal doctrines,” he says. “Written during monumental life changes and in the midst of panic attacks, we’re proud to present the body of lyrical work rendered. Sonically, I believe it’s one of the most aggressive and unrelenting pieces of music ever made without a second of filler.”
The album is filled with standouts—from the grinding intensity of “INVERTED SPEAR OF HEAVEN” to the technical brutality of “THE PORTAL.” “BLACK_WAVE II” serves as a spiritual continuation of Hunter’s work with Moodring and critiques the toxicity of idol culture. “Much of the record is very anti-religious,” says Young. “But that extends to idols in politics and the music scene. No one is above you.”
The record’s title was inspired by lyrics from “STILL WATER SALVATION.” “So many people are looking for someone to save them,” says Young. “No one is coming to save you at the end of the day though. That’s where ‘SALVATION LAUGHS IN THE FACE OF A GRIEVING MOTHER’ comes in. You’re on your own.”
PSYCHO-FRAME has dropped videos for “BLUEPRINTS FOR IDOL GENOCIDE” and “THE PORTAL.” “It’s a song about bad actors in the community,” Sugars says of BLUEPRINTS. “I see people moving in weird ways. So, I’ll keep my distance and let God sort ’em out while I do my thing.”
Despite band members being spread out across North America, PSYCHO-FRAME is all in. “Most of the members quit jobs to pursue this full-time,” says Young. “There’s a lot of flying, but we’re pretty bent on domination nonetheless.”
They’ve already hit the road with Dying Fetus, SPITE, Bodysnathcer and Balmora, and they aren’t slowing down. After the Red Flag show in St. Louis, they’ll head overseas for a European tour in late October, with more plans already forming for 2026.
PSYCHO-FRAME isn’t just another band—they’re building a movement around precision, aggression, and authenticity. “We tested the waters, grew from it, and found we actually had something,” says Mike. “SALVATION LAUGHS IN THE FACE OF A GRIEVING MOTHER is that ‘something’ at its absolute limit.”
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