Swedish extreme death metallers AS YOU DROWN have announced Rat King as the title of their upcoming sophomore album, to be released October 7th/10th worldwide via Metal Blade Records.

The successor to the band's 2009 debut, Reflection, Rat King was recorded at the bands own AYD Studio in Borås and was mixed and mastered by Plec (WATAIN, SCAR SYMMETRY, MISERATION) at Panic Room Studio in Skövde in July 2011.

Lyrically, the album explores the medieval German folk phenomena of rat kings, which were associated with plagues that devastated the European continent.

Surf now over to this location to check out the pre-order information and the first single, 'You Should Be Paranoid' (also streaming below).

Rat King tracklisting:

'Conqueror'

'Slaves To The Kingdom Of Fear'

'You Should Be Paranoid'

'Rabid Wolves In Sheep's Clothing'

'Your Loyal Betrayer'

'The Coming'

'The Nothing'

'Bleeding Structure'

'Cleansing Hands'

Check out the artwork below:

Vocalist Henrik Blomqvist commented on Rat King: "We are delighted to finally be finished with the recording of our second album, entitled Rat King, which will be out in October via Metal Blade. The album - mixed and mastered by Plec at Panic Room Studios - features artwork by Mark Riddick, as well as by Sven de Caluwe of the mighty ABORTED, and nine epic songs of skull crushing death metal mayhem and darkness. It feels like we've taken everything we do to a whole new level on this one, and we can't wait to get out on the road and play these songs live. This new material is INTENSE, although at the same time a lot more varied and dynamic than what we've done in the past. Keep your eyes and ears open friends. Death! Destruction!! GOATS!"

As You Drown is:

Henrik Blomqvist – Vocals

Mikael Åkerström – Guitars

Simon Exner – Guitars

Martin Latvala – Drums

Robert Karlsson – Bass

The band will hit the road with France's LIVARKAHIL in October. Dates, with more to be announced, include:

November

26 - Marseille, France – Le Local
27 - Nice, France – Sezamo
29 - Vernouillet, France – Warm Up