Mental Cruelty are a German deathcore band from Karlsruhe, active since 2014. Starting out in slamming deathcore, they gradually shifted toward symphonic blackened metal - a transformation cemented by their fourth album Zwielicht (2023) on Century Media Records. The current lineup features vocalist Lukas Nicolai, guitarists Marvin Kessler and Nahuel Lozano, bassist Viktor Dick, and drummer Jonathan Koltun.
Mental Cruelty released the single "Helheim" featuring guest vocalist David Simonich from Signs of the Swarm and launched an extensive North American tour.
The band completed a North American tour with Signs of the Swarm, ten56., Carcosa, and Face Yourself - 28 cities in the USA and Canada, with three dates selling out before the tour began.
Singer Lukas Nicolai was featured as a guest on the single "Zeitenschlächter" by German band Necrotted.
The band announced a deluxe edition of the album Zwielicht with an orchestral version of the song "Mortal Shells", released in December 2024.
At the end of 2024, Mental Cruelty completed a European tour as support for Cradle of Filth and Butcher Babies.
