In just their fifth year as a band, Cleveland death metal force 200 Stab Wounds have rapidly gained recognition for their undeniable ability to produce thrilling and quality brutality. From Maggot Stomp to Metal Blade, the band’s morbid and maniacal music has continued to mature, making their deepest incision yet with their latest: Manual Manic Procedures.

Utilizing scrupulous string work and an abundance of smashing grooves, 200 Stab Wounds slash their way through nine songs of savage butchery. Since the band’s inception, vocalist and guitarist Steve Buhl – alongside his bandmates – has remained dedicated to developing the 200SW sound to hit the listener with ultimate impact.

Buhl highlights the band’s hard work on the structuring and crafting of each song on the new album saying, “the process this time around was a bit different because being on a bigger label, it was more time sensitive which was new to us. That did add a bit of pressure, but overall we handled it and wrote the record we wanted to make. We pushed ourselves on this one when it comes to the songwriting structures. Usually, we’ll write 30 different riffs and put them all in one song, but with this one we wanted it to be better structured and more catchy. I’ll admit with some of our older material it was a little hard to even catch a breath with some of the songs cause there were so many riffs happening within like 30 seconds.”

Crediting Jeff Hanneman and Dave Grohl as the musicians who had a big impact on the way he likes to approach songwriting, Buhl says, “those are the two people that come to mind immediately. They are two of the most creative and original players in my mind, and that’s something I try to take away from the music they wrote. I’m always working on stuff with that same feeling in the back of my mind, because of them.”

Throughout Manual Manic Procedures, alternating riff dynamics, rhythmic transformations, and atmosphere-enhancing acoustic instrumentation take the band’s death metal disposition to new heights. Not to mention, the distinctive and killer vocal feature by Jami Morgan of Code Orange (“Ride The Flatline”). “We love experimenting and we get really creative in the studio,” says Buhl. “Me and Ezra (bass) always love messing around with synths and different things in the studio, and we usually always get something cool out of it.”

He continues, “I tend to overthink everything about this band. I really never am fully satisfied with something we do until it’s released and then we go and play it live. That’s when I feel like I can really enjoy something we’ve created. It’s just the anxiety in me. Like I said before, I feel like I have to see a band live to really become a fan, unless that same energy is captured on the record. I feel the same way about our band. I don’t fully catch a real feeling until we play it live. I know it’s good, I know people will like it, I know I like it, but I need to play it live to really catch the 100% feel of what’s happening in the songs and to be fully in it and satisfied – it’s just the way I am personally.”

In addition to continuously developing their songwriting capabilities, 200 Stab Wounds hit the road often having toured with the likes of Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Soulfly, Cattle Decapitation, Dying Fetus, Dark Funeral, Frozen Soul, and many more. The band understands the importance of touring and keeps that at the forefront of their agenda. With Manual Manic Procedures solidifying a huge milestone for the band, it’ll be exciting to continue watching out for what this band does next.

Manual Manic Procedures is out now and you can order it from Metal Blade Records. Follow 200 Stab Wounds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.