Abated Mass of Flesh

Lore & Background

Abated Mass of Flesh began in 2011 when Zack Plunkett recorded and self-released the demo 'Moth and Rust in the Temple of Putridity' on July 6, 2011. In 2012, Zack added his brother Matthew Plunkett on vocals and friend Logan Hayworth on bass after signing with Rottweiler Records. The band became a full-fledged group in January 2013 when Zack met drummer Kade Dodson at a retail store, leading to the release of two EPs that year: 'Brutal Death' and 'The Anatomy of Impurity'. The band embarked on their first mini-tour with Broken Flesh and released their debut album 'The Omen King' in 2015. Over the following years, the lineup changed frequently, with members including drummers Riley Wingate and Topher Stanfield, bassists Grant Alan and Amber Mackenzie, and guitarist Thomas Wingate. The band released multiple EPs and albums, including 'Eternal Harvest' (2017), 'The Existence of Human Suffering' (2022), and 'Rebirthing the Vile' (2025).

Reader's Guide

Abated Mass of Flesh holds significance as a persistent force in the brutal death metal underground, particularly within the Christian metal scene from which they emerged. Their discography includes nine EPs and three studio albums, demonstrating a consistent output over more than a decade. The band's history reflects the DIY ethos of extreme metal, with Zack Plunkett handling much of the recording and mixing. Their music has been compared to established acts like Dying Fetus and Crimson Thorn. Notably, the band's relationship with Christian themes evolved over time; in 2025, Zack stated in an interview that the band no longer identifies as Christian, though in 2026 they clarified that they still explore Christian topics in their music and feel tied to the Christian metal scene. This nuanced stance, along with their extensive touring and festival appearances in the U.S. and Mexico, marks them as a notable example of a band navigating faith and genre boundaries in extreme metal.

Did You Know?

• The band's name was created by Zack Plunkett, with 'Abated' meaning to reduce or take away and 'Mass of Flesh' signifying humanity, referring to diminishing immoral acts.
• Former drummer Kade Dodson died on October 12, 2018, at age 32 from undisclosed circumstances.
• The lyrics for the album 'The Existence of Human Suffering' were based on stories submitted by fans about life events that shaped them.
• The band performed at Exodo Fest in Mexico City in 2015 and again in 2017.

From Solo Project to Full Band

Abated Mass of Flesh began not as a collective but as a solitary creative endeavor. In 2011, Zack Plunkett took on every instrument and vocal duty himself in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and that year he put out the EP "Moth and Rust in the Temple of Putridity" through Sevared Records. The project started gaining collaborators the following year when his brother Matthew stepped in to handle vocals and their friend Logan Hayworth joined on bass after the group signed with Rottweiler Records. The pivotal moment that transformed the side project into a genuine band came in January 2013, when a customer named Kade Dodson walked into the retail store where Zack was working, struck up a conversation over a Dying Fetus t-shirt, and expressed a desire to play brutal death metal. Zack extended an invitation, and within months the group had released two additional EPs—"Brutal Death" and "The Anatomy of Impurity"—both through Rottweiler Records, and embarked on their first live dates with Broken Flesh across Arkansas and Texas. By that point, what had been a one-man operation had solidified into a full-fledged four-piece.

A Prolific Catalog and Collaborative Recording

The band's output has been remarkably steady, spanning eight EPs, four studio albums, and a live record over more than a decade. Zack Plunkett has served as the primary recording and mixing engineer for the vast majority of these releases, giving the catalog a consistent sonic fingerprint. Mastering duties have rotated among trusted collaborators: Rocky Gray, known for his work with Living Sacrifice and Evanescence, handled "Brutal Death," while friend Jordan Casey took on vocal tracking and mastering for "The Anatomy of Impurity" and "Deathcrusher." The 2016 live album "Descended Upon the Deceased" was engineered by Chris Knagge in Woodbury, Tennessee, and the 2017 second album "Eternal Harvest" was engineered by Sam Schneider locally in Murfreesboro. Perhaps the most distinctive creative choice came with the 2022 album "The Existence Of Human Suffering," recorded and mixed by Jordan Casey, whose lyrics were drawn directly from personal stories the band solicited from fans years earlier. The group also re-recorded their 2011 debut EP in 2018 and released the single "Enfleshed" in 2021 before turning to the 2025 album "Rebirthing the Vile."

Building a Live Presence Across Borders

Abated Mass of Flesh has steadily expanded its touring footprint from regional dates to international festival appearances. Their first live run came in 2013, sharing the bill with Broken Flesh for two shows in Arkansas and Texas. In 2014 they toured with Arkansas metalcore group Every Knee Shall Bow. A significant milestone arrived in April 2015 when the band crossed into Mexico City to perform at Exodo Fest alongside Broken Flesh, an appearance they repeated in 2017 after releasing the EP "Lacerated." They also did a mini tour with Georgia's Aborning that same year. Back in the United States, the group played the AudioFeed festival in Champaign, Illinois, in 2018. The winter of 2019 brought "The Hasten Revelation Tour" alongside A Hill to Die Upon, Taking the Head of Goliath, and Death Requisite, followed by a second iteration in March 2020 featuring Taking the Head of Goliath, My Place Was Taken, Cardiac Rupture, and a reunited Crimson Thorn. In 2023 they prepared for the Summer Slams Tour with Broken Flesh, and in the summer of 2025 they performed at Immersion Fest in Circleville, Ohio, before recording the EP "Perpetual Engorgement."

Lineup Flux and a Shifting Identity

The band's personnel has been in constant motion since its inception. After Logan Hayworth departed following the recording of "The Omen King," Max Tubville filled the bass chair. Drummer Kade Dodson left in 2014, replaced by Riley Wingate, who brought his brother Thomas on rhythm guitars. Amber Mackenzie, half-sister to the Wingate brothers, joined as a live bassist in late 2017. In early 2023, both Wingates departed; James Atchison briefly took drums before leaving to relocate, and Grant Alan settled into bass. Topher Stanfield then joined on drums, and the group began writing material for 2025. The roster also carries a somber note: former drummer Kade Dodson died in October 2018 at age thirty-three under undisclosed circumstances. Beyond personnel, the band's identity has evolved. In a 2025 interview with Heaven's Metal Magazine, Zack Plunkett stated the group no longer identifies as Christian, with himself having renounced his faith. Yet in 2026 the band clarified that they still feel deeply tied to the Christian metal scene that shaped them, acknowledging it as a major influence on their trajectory.