"Inked in Blood" is the ninth studio album by the American death metal band Obituary. It was released on October 28, 2014. This album was the first to be released by the band under their partnership with Gibtown Music, their independent record label. However, the distribution was handled by Relapse Records.
After receiving tremendous support from their fans' crowdfunding efforts on Kickstarter, Obituary had the financial support they needed to record and release the album. This robust backing from their fans showed a deep and engaged fan base, enabling Obituary to maintain their aggressive, heavy, and uncompromising musical style throughout the album.
"Inked in Blood" is significant as it marked the first release from the band in five years, following their 2009 album "Darkest Day." The album maintains Obituary’s classic blend of groovy, heavy and slowed-down death metal, with the line-up consisting of John Tardy, Donald Tardy, Trevor Peres, Terry Butler, and Ken Andrews.
The album received positive reviews upon its release, with many fans and critics praising its true-to-form, heavy death metal sound. The artwork for the album was designed by Andreas Marschall, and the album itself reached No. 75 on the Billboard 200 upon release. Singles from the album include "Violence" and "Visions in my Head."
Despite being a band for over three decades, "Inked in Blood" shows that Obituary remained a dominant force in the death metal scene, continuing to deliver their signature oppressive and dark sound.
