Ripped to Shreds

Emerging from the fusion of classic Swedish death metal and grindcore, California's Ripped to Shreds delivers a singular combination of ferocious sonic brutality and richly woven narratives. An intense engagement with Chinese history and folklore forms the core of their identity, threading through every composition. Andrew Lee, the multi-instrumentalist who remains the group's sole constant member, launched the San Jose-based band in 2016; their debut album, Mai Zang, appeared in 2018 on Singapore's Pulverized Records. Later releases Luan in 2020 and Jubian in 2022 further displayed Lee's agile guitar technique and his skill at transforming historical and mythological sources into gripping stories. Sanshi, issued on Relapse in 2024, found the ensemble confronting death and the afterlife through blastbeat rhythms, intricate dueling solos, and Lee's cavernous, Pestilence-esque vocals.