Defaced return with their second single “Anthem Of Vermin”, taken from their upcoming third studio album “Icon”,

Swiss death metal unit DEFACED return with their second single “Anthem Of Vermin”, taken from their upcoming third studio album “Icon”, set for release on February 12th, 2026 via Massacre Records.

After years of meticulous songwriting and two complete pre-production cycles, “Icon” stands as the band’s proudest and most carefully constructed work to date. DEFACED remained fully committed to refining every detail, rewriting and discarding material until each song matched their exact creative vision. Produced, mixed and mastered by Simon Egli and Romano Galli at Hardbeat Studio Eggiwil, the album captures the band’s raw energy with polished clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.

“Icon” also marks the first studio appearance of vocalist Thomas Gertsch, guitarist Matze Schiemann and bassist Michael Gertsch, each bringing new influences that helped shape the album’s expanded sonic palette. While firmly rooted in death metal, the record ventures into grindcore aggression, black metal atmospheres and a pronounced passion for harmonies and ambience, remaining true to the band’s DNA while pushing their sound further than ever before.

Lyrically, the album explores authoritarianism, mass surveillance and psychological manipulation from the perspective of the oppressor himself. The visual interpretation of this dystopian concept was created by acclaimed artist Pär Olofsson, whose artwork perfectly reflects the record’s themes.