Septicakes

I am so happy Lord Mantis are from Chicago! They fill my cold, black heart with hometown pride.

As the dead-on album artwork by Justin Bartlett indicates, they're pretty dark and creepy, with dirty lyrics about hatred, fucking, and nautical apocalypses. Who could ask for anything more?

Most of their members were/are also in other really great Chicago metal bands. Charlie and Andrew were both in Nachtmystium, and Bill is in Indian. Andrew also has a solo project called Avichi.

Ken Sorceron from Abigail Williams has joined the band, and he plays on their new record, which should be released in Spring 2014.

Don't miss an opportunity to see these dudes play live. Their shows prove their reputation for emanating rotted loathing and hatred, is well deserved, as they absorb you into a wall of sound.

Their first record Spawning the Nephilim, is also really great. It isn't as plush as Pervertor, but it's a solid death metal record, that's for sure.

This recipe was inspired by the song "Septichrist." "Septi" means seven, so these cakes are packed with seven different types of chocolate.

Just like Lord Mantis, they are not for the faint of heart.

And for you nerds that want to make sure I didn't cheat, here are the 7 different chocolates I used: 1. Cocoa Powder, 2. Devil's Food pudding mix, 3. Chocolate ganache, 4. Dark chocolate frosting, 5. Chocolate malt balls, 6. Mini chocolate chips, and 7. Chocolate syrup.

Lord Mantis: Septicakes

Makes 30

Metal Constituents:

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 
• ¾ cup unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 box (3.8oz) instant Devil's Food pudding mix
• ½ cup sugar 
•  ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1½ cups malted milk powder
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Ganache:  

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips  
•  2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

For the Frosting:  

• 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 7 cups powdered sugar 
• 2 cups Black Cocoa powder  
• 1 cup milk  
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• crushed malted milk balls  
• mini chocolate chips  
• chocolatesyrup

 
Merciless Instructions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with baking cups, and set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, pudding mix, both sugars, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a 2 cup or larger measuring cup, whisk together milk and malted milk powder until powder is dissolved.
4. Add milk mixture and oil to the flour mixture, beat until combined 
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.  
6.  Add sour cream and vanilla, and beat just until combined. 
7. Fill baking cups about 2/3 full. 
8. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a cake, comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. To make the ganache: Place chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl. 
11. Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  
12. Pour cream over the chocolate chips, and let stand for 2 minutes. 
13. Add butter, then whisk mixture until smooth. 
14. Allow mixture to cool, stirring every few minutes.  
15.  To make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter until smooth.
16. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder and continue to beat.  
17.  Add milk and vanilla and beat at medium speed until frosting is fluffy and lighter in color.
18. To assemble your Septicakes: Cut a small cone-shaped hole out of the center of each cupcake. 
19. Using a pastry bag, frosting gun or small spoon, fill each hole with ganache. 
20. Frost cupcakes. 
21. Sprinkle crushed malted milk balls and mini chocolate chips on each frosted cupcake. 
22.  Drizzle with chocolate syrup. 
23. Fall into the chocolate womb.

 Here's some live footage of Lord Mantis playing "Ritual Killer." Enjoy!