Calgary-based Mares of Thrace have returned with a vengeance, unveiling their highly anticipated new album, The Loss, alongside the first blistering single, “The Second Stage: Denial.” The album marks the band’s debut with Artoffact Records and is now available for pre-order. “The Second Stage: Denial” kicks off with a disorienting, discordant riff and shriek combo, delivering a phenomenal and deliberate sense of unease that trudges right along. Sludge-heavy grind is infused with a grungy rawness, but beneath the layers of chaos, a calculated precision emerges, delivering a prolonged melee that feels both devastating and cathartic. Thérèse Lanz’s vocals are a highlight, exuding a wavering psychosis reminiscent of David Yow of The Jesus Lizard but unmistakably her own brand of madness. Her ...