In the brutal depths of the death metal scene, Emasculator has emerged as a powerful force, shattering stereotypes and redefining what it means to be extreme. With members spanning Prague and the United States, this all-female band brings a fresh perspective and unrelenting intensity to the genre. We had the privilege of speaking with guitarist Morgehenna about the band’s origins, their debut EP The Disfigured and the Divine.
Serial Metalbums: Can you tell us how Emasculator was formed, what motivated you to create an all-female brutal death metal band, and how members from Prague and the United States connected to bring this project to life?
Morgehenna: Mallika had a killer idea: an all-girl brutal death metal band called Emasculator. She slid into our DMs with her vision, and it felt like we all had the same exact one. Mallika and Teresa had already crossed paths at Obscene Extreme Festival in the Czech Republic years before. I hadn't met her yet, but I knew her work with Abnormality. It was a no-brainer.
Serial Metalbums: What are the musical influences that have shaped Emasculator's sound, whether in brutal death or extreme metal in general and are there any artists or albums that particularly inspired you?
Morgehenna: All of us girls have different influences. Mallika mentioned while writing that she wanted to implement some influences from Disgorge (US) as well as Deeds of Flesh. Teresa stated that her songwriting was heavily inspired by Gorgasm and Severed Savior. Myself, I wanted a little influence from Disavowed but with some of the groove of Dying Fetus. We all love Defeated Sanity, Cryptopsy, and a lot of the BDM classics like Inveracity.
Cierra carefully studied the style of a lot of brutal death drummers as she was adapting to the genre. She was already well versed in blasting at insane speeds so she added her own flair to the traditional techniques, and it shaped much of the sound on the album. I think it’s great to have musicians with totally different influences from yourself, as it can bring something fresh to your sound.
Serial Metalbums: How did the writing and recording process for your debut EP, The Disfigured and the Divine, unfold? Did you face any challenges related to the distance between members, and is there a track that is especially meaningful to you?
Morgehenna: Mallika had the theme and the lyrics written before the music was composed. The musical writing process started with the guitars. Teresa and I would send ideas, tab them out, and the rest of the girls would send suggestions to make adjustments. Then, Cierra would play over the songs and ask us for feedback. There were some difficulties in the early process, but open communication kept everything flowing smoothly. At this point, we’ve ironed out a lot of the kinks in the recording process. Going forward, the process just gets easier.
Serial Metalbums: What are the main themes of The Disfigured and the Divine, and what does this evocative title mean to you? Was there a particular message you wanted to convey through this EP?
Morgehenna: Mallika is the genius behind the songwriting and album title. My understanding is that the album title was inspired by “Women Who Run with the Wolves”. It embodies the strength and resilience of women and female-identifying individuals. Despite facing dehumanization and trauma, we remain powerful and sacred, poised to reclaim our strength. “What is divine in us can never be taken away.
Serial Metalbums: What is your perception of the current death and extreme metal scene, and are there any recent bands you admire? As a female band, how do you view the evolution of this often male-dominated scene?
Morgehenna: The current extreme metal scene feels like it’s thriving more now than it has in the last few decades. There is a huge revival in brutal death metal currently with bands like Stabbing, Desecation, Nuclear Remains, Nephilim Grinder, and Anal Stabwound. All of those bands have innovative songwriting that blend classic influences with fresh elements, which makes it possible to engage both younger and older audiences. A lot of brutal bands are getting opportunities that would not have been possible a few years prior.
I think we can attribute this to labels like New Standard Elite for backing up us bands who just want to write brutal extreme music. The current evolution of the “male-dominated scene” is better than it’s been. There are more and more women at shows and playing in bands.
The new generation is more open-minded and accepting of all types of people. Yes the themes of misogyny still exist, and there are a few who are resistant to change. Emasculator is lucky to have the support of a lot of bands that have been dominating this scene since the beginning. We’re here to stay and we’ll keep taking up space in this scene and encouraging other women to do so for as long as we’re able.