Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW RATING SCALE:
**Please note that this rating scale serves as a reference for albums reviewed prior to 2023.
Numbered ratings will not be added going forward, in hopes that the writer’s impression of the work will suffice.
It will have to.** 

6 – Rarely bestowed. An honor reserved for undeniable classics (or those that should be). The Apex Predator.
5 – Impressive.
4 – Worthy of special recognition.
3 – A solid effort.
2 – The participation trophy.
1 – These are the albums that the 2s beat up on the way home from school.
0 – A waste of both our time and yours.

Album Reviews

Album Review: Binah – Ónkos

BINAH’s never been one to shy away from lengthy explorations within its limited number of releases, – half of the actual songs found on 2012’s Hallucinating In Resurrecture debut passing the 7-minute mark – but when the band waited seven years after Phobiate to return with Ónkos, I knew we had something potentially intriguing on our hands. Composed of two pieces, each extending past 20 minutes, it’s obvious the band wants us to immerse ourselves in this experience, and thus, headphones ‘round my earholes, I began to ascend ‘Mount Morphine’. With two synth players in the ranks, and over a […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Denial Of Life – Witness The Power [EP]

Look at the cover of DENIAL OF LIFE’s Witness The Power EP and can someone please tell me why basically a mash-up of two of the most recognizable album covers of one of the most recognizable bands in the history of metal seemed like a great idea? And thus, armed (or footed) with monkey boots and a length of chain, did I step boldly forward to wage unholy war against such flagrant abuse of…wait, I never really even liked SLAYER that much anyway, and – aside from the album after Those Two, for all I know or care, they more […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Dead Heat – Process Of Elimination

Coming up on its 10-year anniversary, Oxnard’s DEAD HEAT returns. The band’s been consistently at it and consistently solid over this time, knocking out two full lengths, a live album, and an EP, moving from releasing its music independently to Boston’s largely hardcore Triple-B Records, and on through the more diverse roster of Tankcrimes, to reach its all-important third album – and Metal Blade debut – Process Of Elimination. Now, this how you start an album, folks! In lieu of some piss-poor, tossed together “intro”, a guitar piece touched with the classical gently welcomes us before the lid is ripped […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Kostnateni – Přiliŝnost

The older I get, the more I realize I’m just not weird enough. Just being a fan of metal…even extreme metal…is not enough. I’m on the hunt for the truly outlandish…the fringe dwellers and musical outliers that subvert norms and come up with something new. This year, HAVUKRUUNU and ARKHAAIK have satisfied that craving. But with KOSTNATENI, I’ve reached another level yet. KOSTNATENI is one Mr. DL and I’ve been a follower of his ever since I heard the monumental Oheň hoȓi tam, kde padl EP about four years ago. DL is a man not content to follow well-trodden paths. […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Arson Charge – A Dying Light

While Denver, Colorado remains one of the most underrated, underreported on and under the radar regional music scenes in the US, that’s in no way a guarantee that everything coming from the Mile High City is worthwhile, or even, for that matter, good. Therefore, when a PR sheet touts ARSON CHARGE as being made up of “former members of…”, this didn’t send me to Bandcamp or the socials plumbing the depths of the interweb so I could seem more “hip” or “in the know”. Because, when you get right down to it, a band stands on its own merit, no […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Today Is The Day – Never Give In

I’m one of the lucky ones. I witnessed the birth pangs of TODAY IS THE DAY in early ‘90s Nashville. Bands who shared absolutely no sonic camaraderie with TITD made Sunday afternoon shows at Lucy’s Records on Elliston Place. From cross-dressing cowpunk to reggae to grind, nothing was off limits. Over a dozen albums and countless EPs, singles, splits, and compilations later, Steve Austin remains behind the controls, touring members Tom Jack [bass] and Colin Frecknall [drums, percussion] joining with others with others to create the band’s latest, Never Give In. ‘Divide And Conquer’ chugs forth, electronics and industrial rhythm […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Warrant – The Speed Of Metal

No, this isn’t the California hair band that topped the charts in the late ’80s…this is the older, harder WARRANT out of Germany, who released some speed/thrash albums in the early ’80s. Like almost any metal band that has ever put out a record, they’ve reformed after decades out of commission and are back in action with The Speed Of Metal. The thing that struck me about this version of WARRANT is that they don’t seem to exclusively be a speed-oriented band. Early tracks like ‘Cut Into Pieces’ and ‘Demons’ really cut loose with a blitzkrieg of thrash metal, but […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Motherless – Do You Feel Safe?

From BIBLE OF THE DEVIL to LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR to USURPER to the almighty classic lineup of TROUBLE, Chicago, Illinois has long been a bastion of rock and metal largely bereft of the accoutrements that hold many of its counterpart local and regional scenes in check. No checklist here; that got rolled up and smoked long ago, a PBR can used for a pipe sitting in the front seat of someone’s car before clocking in for work for a double shift at some thankless blue-collar job. What matters is the riff, brethren and sisters! The sound of the drums. […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Krigsgrav – Stormcaller

On its eighth album, and fourth with the same lineup, by now KRIGSGRAV of Keller, Texas had better have a good handle on what it is and what it isn’t. Not every band is meant to venture off on experimental pathways, not every band should try to shade or – more often than not – forcefully inject its music with other genres. It works for the rare few but, let’s be honest here, doesn’t for most. If it doesn’t occur naturally, the listening public who actually care about what they’re hearing will smell the stench. Stormcaller’s opener, ‘Huntress Of The […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Syrinx – Time Out Of Place

I wonder if the hallowed halls of SYRINX’s practice space are lined with Great Computers… Yes, we got ourselves some 24 karat 70’s RUSH fans here…and how! One look at their promo picture, complete with frilly white shirts, will convince you they stepped out of a wormhole connected to 1978. That’s cool with me, I’m a huge fan of ’70s RUSH, but you are setting yourself a VERY high bar when you call your band SYRINX. This is a true artifact. Time Out Of Place is a true prog rock album…there’s plenty of loud guitar, but almost no actual metal. […]

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