Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal & Extreme Music And Culture

Album Reviews

Album Review: Godless – States Of Chaos

In all fairness to India’s GODLESS, when States Of Chaos came across my desk, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Nothing to do with the name, we’re past that. My lack of interest was born of a general “meh” reaction to most death metal of varieties other than Swedish or the classics – you know, DEATH, GORGUTS, IMMOLATION, etc. – and dislike of almost all new thrash output. ‘Malevolent’ begins living up to its name, no annoying intro track to wade through. There’s just something “off” about the tone that bugs me, though. Bass-heavy with raw guitars, it’s exactly what I should […]

Music News

TWISTED TOWER DIRE: Nameless Grave Records To Release Crest Of The Martyrs Demos From Virginia Heavy Metal Act; ‘Some Other Time, Some Other Place’ Streaming + Preorders Posted

Nameless Grave Records presents Crest Of The Martyrs Demos, an alternate/demo version of TWISTED TOWER DIRE’s adored third album, making the recordings available for the first time. In the days of olde, after classic heavy metal was supplanted by extreme music and before the current reignition of interest that the genre has enjoyed, Northern Virginia’s TWISTED TOWER DIRE tirelessly defended true heavy metal in all forms as they sought to breathe new light into a then largely dead genre. By the time their now-legendary third album Crest Of The Martyrs was written they were on top of the world, having […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Inerth – Void

Hitting the Earth with the impact of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs comes INERTH from Spain. Void has come out of nowhere to ambush unsuspecting metal fans. I’ve learned that most of these guys once played in the excellent grindcore band LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER. While there are still some traces of that sound here, especially in ‘Isolate’ and ‘Brave New Cold War’, INERTH is a much different beast, drawing influence from sludgy and industrial acts like GODFLESH and NAILBOMB. There are even some traces of post-punk ala KILLING JOKE here. But better believe me, this sucker is heavy! […]

Music News

NILE To Begin 2022 US Tour Dates Next Month wsg. Incantation, Sanguisugabogg and I AM

International Death Metal legends NILE are primed to embark on their 2022 U.S. headlining tour next month! Featuring support from Incantation, Sanguisugabogg and I AM, the “Age Of Vile Divinities” tour kicks off on Thursday, February 3rd in Nashville, TN, and will touch down in more than 30 cities before concluding in Spartanburg, South Carolina on March 12th. A complete list of dates on the upcoming trek can be found below! The band’s first tour of 2022 comes after last year’s announcement that they’ve signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records, and that their highly anticipated tenth studio album is […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Power Paladin – With The Magic Of Windfyre Steel

Sometimes you just know. And with even a cursory glance at the cover art for With The Magic Of Windfyre Steel, it’s crystal clear what Iceland’s POWER PALADIN is here to do. Betcha there’s not even a death metal riff within a mile of this shit. Takes me back to when you could look at an album cover, song titles – if you were lucky a band photo on the back of the record – and lay good odds on what you’d find inside. POWER PALADIN gets right down to business with ‘Kraven The Hunter’, ghosts pre-Final Countdown EUROPE and […]

Music News

Dark Metal Frontrunners AGATHODAIMON Announce Comeback Album The Seven + Reveal First Single

Nine years after the release of In Darkness, German dark metal frontrunners AGATHODAIMON set the stage for their long-awaited comeback – the bittersweet seventh studio album, The Seven, out March 18, 2022 via Napalm Records. AGATHODAIMON’s exceptional new strike maintains the old-school spirit of its predecessor, but can’t be pigeonholed due to its dynamic and widespread musical styles, evoking a gloomy atmosphere fueled by sharp growls, epic clear vocals and a gripping, exceptional sonic universe. Formed in 1995 and entering the scene with their debut, Blacken The Angel, in 1998, bandleader Sathonys was temporarily forced to put AGATHODAIMON on hold […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Great American Ghost – Torture World [EP]

I’ve gotta confess, I’ a sucker for the EP format. Bands can either provide a taste of what’s to come, bust out a few cover versions, or stretch themselves into areas they wouldn’t feel comfortable with in an album format. Given our current global situation, the past year plus has given cause for many bands to pause and reflect on what it means to continue on, or if they can even financially/emotionally manage to do so. And, not for nothing, some brilliant art in all forms has been born from that reflection. GREAT AMERICAN GHOST has taken that time, looked […]

Music News

CROWBAR To Release Zero And Below Full-Length March 4th, 2022 Via MNRK Heavy; New Single/Video ‘Chemical Godz’ Now Playing At Revolver + Preorders Available

New Orleans, Louisiana sludge metal pioneers CROWBAR will release their long awaited new full-length, Zero And Below, March 4th, 2022 via MNRK Heavy! In celebration, today the band is pleased to unveil the record’s artwork, track listing, and first single/video, ‘Chemical Godz’, now playing at Revolver. CROWBAR songs are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness. Zero And Below, which cements the band’s dense catalog exactly one dozen studio albums deep, is the most unforgivably doomy CROWBAR record since their 1998 landmark effort, Odd Fellows Rest. Produced, mixed, and mastered by […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Gaahls Wyrd – The Humming Mountain

Black metal thrives on controversy, whether intentionally created by the artists/bands themselves or a by-product of media hype. In that realm, few have lived that life to the degree of Gaahl. I don’t need to rehash, and won’t as a cursory web search can do that for those interested. GAAHLS WYRD’s debut album in 2019 was a chance for Gaahl (the man) to move away from Gaahl (the media/meme fodder) and simply record as an artist with like-minded comrades – and it succeeded. 2021 brings The Humming Mountain, a self-described “mini-album” that swims in the pre-history first explored on GastiR […]

Music News

CATTLE DECAPITATION Readies For Death…At Last Headlining Tour, Set To Begin January 18th

In less than one month, San Diego grinders CATTLE DECAPITATION will kick off their long-anticipated US headlining tour. The Death…At Last Tour runs from January 18th through February 20th. Support will be provided by The Last Ten Seconds Of Life, Creeping Death, and Extinction A.D. Tickets are on sale NOW! See all confirmed dates below. CATTLE DECAPITATION will be touring in support of their critically lauded Death Atlas full-length release via Metal Blade Records. Produced by Dave Otero, Death Atlas was named one of the best records of 2019 by Decibel Magazine, MetalSucks, Metal Injection, and many more, and it […]

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