For over two decades, Ulcerate have existed in a space that few bands can truly claim as their own. Their music has never been about easy categorisation. Instead, it has always felt like something to be experienced, something that unfolds over time rather than reveals itself instantly.
Across their career, that identity has only become more defined.
What began as an oppressive, chaotic force in their early years has gradually shifted into something broader, more immersive, and ultimately more powerful. It is not a move away from intensity, but rather a redefinition of it. Where once density and dissonance dominated, there is now a stronger sense of space, movement, and emotional weight underpinning everything they create.
That evolution sits at the core of Cutting the Throat of God, a record that continues to resonate well beyond its release. Rather than fading with time, it has settled into place as something the band still feels deeply connected to, a sign that they are now operating closer than ever to their own creative instincts.
At the heart of that progression is a clear and deliberate shift in perspective.
For years, Ulcerate pushed toward a suffocating, chaotic sound, constantly testing the limits of how dense and overwhelming their music could become. Eventually, that approach reached its natural conclusion. What followed was not a rejection of that identity, but a decision to explore what lay beyond it.
The answer was not to do more, but to do less.
By embracing space and allowing moments to breathe, the band discovered a different kind of heaviness. One that does not rely purely on relentless intensity, but instead draws power from contrast, tension, and release. It is a subtle shift on paper, but in practice it has transformed the way their music feels.
There is now a greater sense of scale to what Ulcerate create. The music moves, expands, and contracts. It invites the listener in rather than simply overwhelming them. And in doing so, it achieves something that has always been central to the band’s intent, immersion.
This idea of immersion is not something forced or overly constructed. It emerges naturally through the way the band writes, through a process that has been refined over decades. Daily repetition, constant evaluation, and an almost instinctive understanding of when something feels right. It is not about chasing perfection, but about recognising when a piece of music aligns with their internal sense of what it should be.
That same mindset extends into the production side of Ulcerate’s work. With drummer and co writer Jamie Saint Merat handling much of the recording, mixing, and visual direction, the band has maintained a strong DIY ethos throughout their career. It is an approach built on control, but not at the expense of creativity.
Instead, it creates a framework.
By setting clear parameters around what they want to achieve, the band allows ideas to flow more freely within those boundaries. It is a balance between intention and discovery, one that has become more refined over time while still retaining the same core philosophy. No compromise, no outside interference, and a commitment to doing things on their own terms.
That consistency has been a defining trait of Ulcerate’s journey.
From the moment they found their footing with Everything Is Fire, there has been a clear vision guiding everything that followed. Each release has explored different aspects of that sound, expanding it, reshaping it, and pushing it into new territory without ever losing sight of its foundation.
What has changed is not the identity itself, but the way it is expressed.
In recent years, that evolution has also brought new listeners into the fold. Interest from outside traditional extreme metal circles has grown, something that speaks to the emotional depth and universality within their music. It is not a calculated move, but rather a natural outcome of the band continuing to follow their instincts.
And now, that journey returns to the stage.
As Ulcerate bring their current material across Australia and New Zealand on the Absolved In Perdition tour, there is a sense of both continuation and closure. These shows mark the final chapter of the Cutting the Throat of God cycle, a way of grounding the album in the environments that have always supported the band from the beginning.
Live, the music takes on another dimension.
There is a fluidity that emerges over time, particularly in the rhythmic elements, where familiarity allows space for subtle variation and improvisation. Songs evolve, not in structure, but in feel. The interaction with an audience adds another layer, sometimes reinforcing expectations, sometimes challenging them entirely.
It is this unpredictability that keeps the experience alive.
For Ulcerate, performing is not just about reproducing what exists on record. It is about engaging with it in the moment, responding to the energy in the room, and allowing the music to shift in ways that cannot be captured in a studio setting.
That connection is especially significant when it comes to Australia and New Zealand.
These shows are more than just another leg of a tour. They are a return to familiar ground, a chance to reconnect with audiences and with the wider community that has grown alongside the band over the years. There is a shared understanding there, one shaped by distance, persistence, and the realities of building a career from this part of the world.
It has never been easy.
From the early days of sending emails and trying to establish connections overseas, to the ongoing challenges of rising costs and logistical barriers, Ulcerate’s path has required a level of commitment that goes beyond the music itself. Touring internationally remains a significant undertaking, one that demands both belief and resilience.
But it is also part of what defines them.
There is no sense of taking any of this for granted. If anything, the appreciation has only grown with time. The opportunity to travel, to perform, and to reconnect with people along the way has become just as important as the music itself.
That perspective carries through to this upcoming run.
With support from The Amenta in Australia and Vicissitude in New Zealand, the Absolved In Perdition tour brings together a lineup that reflects both intensity and kinship. Longstanding relationships, shared histories, and a mutual understanding of what it takes to exist in this space.
For those attending, it is more than just another show.
It is a chance to step into the world Ulcerate have spent decades refining. To experience the scale, the weight, and the subtlety of a band that continues to evolve without ever losing its identity.
And for Ulcerate themselves, it is a way to draw a line under one chapter before whatever comes next.
ULCERATE with guests The Amenta and Vicissitude performing at:
April 18th – Christchurch, Loons +
April 25th – Auckland, Double Whammy +
May 2nd – Wellington, San Fran +
May 7th – Adelaide, Ed Castle* w/ Lumen Ad Mortem
May 8th – Melbourne, Max Watts* w/ Munt
May 9th – Sydney, Crowbar*w/ Sorathian Dawn
May 10th – Brisbane, Crowbar* w/ Hebephrenique
+Vicissitude New Zealand only, no local supports
*The Amenta Australia only
TICKETS ON SALE NOW at:
ADELAIDE – www.moshtix.com.au
MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, BRISBANE – www.oztix.com.au
CHRISTCHURCH, AUCKLAND – www.undertheradar.co.nz
WELLINGTON – https://moshtix.co.nz
LINKS:
www.ulcerate-official.com
www.facebook.com/Ulcerate
www.instagram.com/ulcerateofficial
www.facebook.com/theamenta
www.facebook.com/neolithic.necrocannibals
https://swdpresents.com
