Two years ago, VILE SPECIES shattered expectations with their unrelenting debut Against the Values of Civilization. Now, the Athens-based grinders are back with their second full-length album Disqualified As a Human, pushing their signature blend of grindcore and death metal to an even darker, more aggressive extreme.
The title itself, a reference to Osamu Dazai’s novel No Longer Human, captures the band’s ongoing exploration of themes like social alienation and the dehumanizing effects of modern society.
While the album title shares a connection to the novel, the songs delve into broader issues of human expendability and societal decay. As the band explains, the name fits their thematic focus but is not directly tied to Dazai’s narrative. What remains constant, though, is the band’s disdain for humanity’s self-destructive path.
There have been significant shifts within the band since their last release, including lineup changes. Chris now handles vocals and bass, while Michalis takes over on drums, contributing to the band’s new approach. The guitar tuning has also been dropped from E standard to B standard, resulting in a heavier, more aggressive sound that leans even further into death metal influences.
The artwork for Disqualified As a Human was crafted by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, who is known for his work with SUFFOCATION, VOMITORY, and OCEANS OF SLUMBER.
Nakos’ vision captures the essence of the album title—a grotesque figure, once human, transformed into something monstrous. As Nakos describes it: “I wanted to depict the title in a surreal way: a figure that is basically a human (or used to be), but having become something that cannot be described as one. Having endured so much, disgusted by the human race and its greed, he ends up looking like evil incarnate.”
The sonic brutality of Disqualified As a Human was once again engineered by David Prudent at Made in Hell Studio, where the band recorded, mixed, and mastered the album.
Prudent’s involvement carries over from the previous album, ensuring continuity in production quality while allowing the band to explore new sounds. According to VILE SPECIES, this session was distinct, with the band employing unorthodox equipment and techniques to shape the recording.
This time, the album is being released in multiple formats across a variety of labels, cementing the band’s presence in both the Greek and international grind scenes. The vinyl release will be a co-release between EveryDayHate (Poland), Gore Kitty Records (Greece), Helldog Records (Poland), Nihilocus Records (Italy), Nothing to Harvest Records (Greece), Nostril Bush (Greece), and Throne of Lies Records (USA). Tape format is forthcoming via Septic Aroma of Reeking Stench (Greece), and the CD release details will be announced soon.
For a deeper look into the album’s individual tracks, you can dive into the full track-by-track commentary provided by the band below.
1. DISQUALIFIED AS A HUMAN
Humans that “live the life” under capitalism and how expendable they are. Putting themselves in a state that no one cares if they live or die, no one knows they exist, allowed to breathe as long as they do the job.
2. ONCE A BODY, NOW A CORPSE
This song is about being indoctrinated into false pride. What we are being taught since children that do die for the nation is a good thing, but in the end people just die for a war of rich people, without even being remembered.
3. THOSE WHO ACT VIOLENT
Being antifascist is not about fancy antifa stickers, social media posts and crying on shoulders. Everyone is a 10/10 when it is about “Talking the talk”. But what happens when you have to “Walk the walk”? This song is just a statement that we need to start making fascists of any sort, FEAR once more not just by saying proud stuff but by acting proudly as well. Those who “Walk the walk” are definitely our friends!
4. ΑΓΚΥΛΩΤΟΣ ΣΚΟΤΑΔΙΣΜΟΣ
It is easy for a nation to control its civilians by feeding them patriotic bullshit about heroes that died for the flag in order for them to be free and nonsense about a god that will punish them unless they do what they say. We laugh at the people buying that crap.(…apparently they are too many!!!)
5. SELF INFLICTED MIND IMPRISONMENT
The only prison someone can actually find himself stuck into, is his/her own brain. Once they realize that…changes to the better take place. Sadly people tend to lean on enslavement with privileges….Oh well!!!
6. PREACHING HATRED-SIDE CASUALTIES- MUTUALY ASSURED DESTRUCTION
Better not speak about it.
7. INJECTED WITH APATHY
This is about the way we live. Feeling safe in a plasmatic environment, being fed scraps and feeling thankful for it and in the same time, watching others starve and die next to us makes us feel safe and lucky we still have a moldy bed to sleep on and a piece of rotten bread to spend the day…Pathetic…
8. PLEBS IN DESPAIR
The irony of someone thinking that by voluntarily becoming a slave to a system, will give him privileges in his “captivity”. The mindset of someone that prefers to be a slave with privileges instead of free at any cost.
9. BATTERING SCUM
Priests have always been the leading cause for mind enslavement among humanity. This one is simply pure hate against those paradise-promising, hope-selling loan sharks of god.
10. PRE DETERMINED DECADENCE PT 3
This one is another reminder that our decadence has started.
11. THE SOUND
Well this one…. is it an inside joke? is it a track against the music business again? or maybe just a personal story? Well you can decide for yourself 🙂
Disclaimer: Nothing against Ricky Martin, he seems like a cool guy, but ok….
12. THE INVISIBLE ONES
Stepping onto others in order to gain a better place in this society of idiots, only to realize that you are still swimming in the same pond of shit with the rest. People that simply decide to gain a better spot in the shithole provided instead of actually trying to get out, are the problem! This one is about this type of people and how invisible they are to us….
13. THE CRADLE HAS FALLEN
This is all about the nasty stuff that will take place once revolution starts and capitalists start taking the damage they deserve.
14. A CROSS UP THE ASS=GOD AS A WEAPON
This one gives our version of “God is a weapon”, Christians so wildly use. The way we see it, if you stick a cross up to a Christian fanatic’s ass and he bleeds to death you have successfully turned God into a weapon.
15. SVERKOMA
To put it simply and shortly: This track is the whole album in one track. How we feel about some humans that we despise.
