Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

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Short Sharp Shocks

Avenger Of Blood – Revenge Is My Name

After spreading out 3.5 albums on four labels over the past decade (The .5 happens when you re-record your first album despite it being less than 10 years old. Come on, guys!), AVENGER OF BLOOD returns with Revenge Is My Name on M-Theory Audio. The title track, however, recoils like a turret-mounted .50 cal, reminiscent of early WARBRINGER and LAZARUS A.D., never a bad thing. A death-tinged churn begins ‘Throes Of Temptation’, vocalist/guitarist Sal Lalli spitting out his best Mille Petrozza once the speed kicks in, and ‘Til Death Do We Thrash’ is the ‘Toxic Waltz’-styled anthem every band of […]

Music News

DESEKRYPTOR: US death metal duo announce new EP Sarcophagal Corridors on Nuclear Winter Records

DESEKRYPTOR will unleash their new EP Sarcophagal Corridors on May 16th, 2025 via Nuclear Winter Records. Marking a bold shift in their creative approach, the band deconstructed their usual songwriting method by starting with drums instead of riffs. Percussionist P.A. recorded raw, unanchored drum tracks that guitarist E.S. then manipulated and smothered with riffs designed to overpower the rhythms. While the unorthodox process could have resulted in utter chaos, it instead gave birth to some of the most refined and structurally cohesive material the band has produced to date. Sarcophagal Corridors stands as a testament to DESEKRYPTOR’s willingness to experiment […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Thus Spoke Zarathustra – I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others’ Harm

The early-mid ‘00s were a weird-ass time for metal. OG metalcore bands (look ‘em up, this ain’t Wikipedia or The Metal Archives) suddenly found themselves being name-dropped by a new pack of hyenas in guyliner that would make Gerard Way wince in discomfort and jeans tighter than Luke Bryan’s. Of course, now, the reason for the tightness of their jeans is that they belonged to their girlfriend. A word on the girlfriends of that era; lonely. Lonely, because these dandy fops were too busy making fag jokes and bro-ing down to pay any attention to them, in search of the […]

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CELESTIAL SANCTUARY: UK Death Metal Outfit Drops ‘Choking On The Rotten Seed’ Video; Visions Of Stagnant Blood EP Reissue Out Now On Metal Blade Records

UK death metal goliaths CELESTIAL SANCTUARY are pleased to present their video for ‘Choking On The Rotten Seed’. The track comes off the band’s critically adored Visions Of Stagnant Blood EP, recently reissued by Metal Blade Records. Comments vocalist/guitarist Thomas Cronin, “The idea behind the video was to introduce ourselves and what we’re about to people who haven’t heard our band yet, and there’s a lot of people out there who haven’t got a fucking clue who we are. “Stylistically, we really just wanted to capture that essence and feeling of discovering your new favorite band on Headbangers Ball at […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Chamber Mage – By Light Of Emerald Gods

Ah, the galloping riff! Steve Harris’ pride and joy, it’s become one of the staples of traditional heavy metal, particularly bands dealing with fantasy and medieval themes. That leads us directly to Colorado’s CHAMBER MAGE, who love swords, sorcery and those galloping riffs. This record oozes both classic metal and high fantasy. Not 100% sure, but I think By Light Of Emerald Gods is a concept album telling one mighty tale. If you love OMEN, MANILLA ROAD and the horribly overlooked MEDIEVAL STEEL, you’re going to be over the moon with CHAMBER MAGE. Once ‘In Battle’ locks into its patented […]

Music News

Thrashers reborn! Toranaga U.K. set to release A New Order EP

Formed in 1985, TORANAGA were at the forefront of the UK thrash scene, releasing two of the movement’s most impressive and important albums – Bastard Ballads for Peaceville Records in 1988 and God’s Gift for major label Chrysalis Records in 1990. However, despite the critical acclaim garnered by both albums and successful tours with the likes of Manowar, Venom, Saxon, Annihilator and more, the band split with Chrysalis in ’91 and everything came to a halt. Various versions of TORANAGA appeared over the years, with The Bastard Son Of Toranaga releasing an EP in 2011 and an album in 2013, […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Pyromancer – Absolute Dominion By Fire

So, Kentucky’s PYROMANCER knocked out a demo almost exactly 10 years ago, then apparently went dormant, members Conqueror Horus and Master Of Graveyard Torment becoming more involved in their other musical exploits, only to return last year via a split with Detroit wastebearers PERVERSION. Now beneath the flag of Adirondack Black Mass, the twosome arrive with Absolute Dominion By Fire. Mind, you, of the dozen tracks found here, four are revisitations from the past two releases. Will we be dominated? Absolutely, even? And if so, by fire? ‘Igniting The Sacrificial Pyre’ drags somewhat monotonously at first, synths and a voice […]

Music News

HATE Unleashes Bellum Regiis Title Track; Full-Length To Drop May 2nd On Metal Blade Records

Slavic black/death metal titans HATE are pleased to unleash the title track of their forthcoming new full-length, Bellum Regiis, set to drop on May 2nd on Metal Blade Records. With a dozen ferocious and lauded albums since 1996’s Daemon Qui Fecit Terra, HATE’s lucky thirteenth album, Bellum Regiis, finds the unrelenting Polish quartet forging a bolder and more aggressive style than ever. Bellum Regiis’ nine songs see vocalist/guitarist ATF Sinner, guitarist Domin, drummer Nar-Sil, and bassist Tiermes honing a modern sound rife with eerie atmosphere and depth. Produced by David Castillo (Candlemass, Carcass, Dark Tranquillity, Katatonia) at Stockholm’s Grondahl Studio, […]

Music News

ORANGE GOBLIN – END OF TRANSMISSION: 1995-2025 THE FINAL TOUR – UK & IRELAND DECEMBER 2025

Back in January, UK heavy metal veterans ORANGE GOBLIN announced that 2025 would mark their final year, capping an extraordinary 30-year journey that has seen them evolve from backroom bar rockers to one of the most respected names in British metal. Now, ORANGE GOBLIN have shared details of the End Of Transmission 1995-2025 Tour, their final seven shows across the UK and Ireland: ‘We are delighted to finally announce that ORANGE GOBLIN will do one last tour of the UK and Ireland in December 2025 before we call it a day! It’s going to be bittersweet performing at these last […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Messa – The Spin

Italian doomweavers MESSA have always been reliable, but with the move to Svart Records and release of Close in 2022, they became memorable. A Live At Roadburn followed, and now arrives The Spin, marked by yet another label switch, this time under the Metal Blade imprint. I’ll confess to a bit of trepidation when I see three releases from a band in a row, all on different labels, but MESSA has been around for just over a decade, and this is its fourth LP, so the members have clearly put in the work, and may be simply seeking to be […]

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