Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

Album Reviews

Album Review: Bright Sunshine – Executive Power Supreme

After shaking up the power structure of the Southwestern service area for the past few fiscal years, regional representatives of the corporate headhunting group BRIGHT SUNSHINE have entered into a partnership with Reptilian Records in hopes to boost brand recognition and expand upon an already lean and mean business acumen with Executive Power Supreme. Alright, time to gather ‘round…everyone, take your seats. Linda? Linda? No, Linda won’t be hosting this meeting due to the Sign-Up Sheet Fiasco of ’22. Focus on the positive here, as we open with ‘Growth Opportunities’, a calamitous ride down a gravel road, slamming into guardrail […]

Music News

STOMACH: No Clean Singing Streams Low Demon LP From Chicago-Based Merciless Sludge Act Formed By Weekend Nachos, Sick/Tired, Sea Of Shit Members; Album Out July 18 On Hibernation Release

Chicago-based miserable sludge/doom henchmen STOMACH deliver their merciless second LP, Low Demon, now streaming in its entirety at No Clean Singing ahead of its street date this Friday through Hibernation Release. STOMACH began as a duo featuring drummer/vocalist John Hoffman (Weekend Nachos, Ledge) and guitarist Adam Tomlinson (Sick/Tired, Sea Of Shit), who previously played together in the very first Weekend Nachos lineup. The duo released two demo tapes and their monstrous debut album, Parasite, prior to their upcoming second album, Low Demon, the band having since evolved into a live three-piece with the addition of bassist Kirk Syrek (Sick/Tired, Exalted). […]

Short Sharp Shocks

CRYPTODIRA – Genesis Of Error [EP]

For those who remember the sledgehammer to the gut that was ‘Constituted: I. Constitutum’ from ‘17’s The Devils Despair, you knew CRYPTODIRA wasn’t your New Noise / Revolver “it” band, and was thirsty for blood, likely yours. ‘No Monuments’ shows that that thirst remains unslaked, this spiked and horned child of MASTODON and CRYPTOPSY both more bristled than ever, and still – in the non-face-ripping sections – more sublime. Despite its brevity, ‘The Same River Twice’ is a caterwauling careen downhill race, just this side of uncontrolled, and the 9+ minute title track is a study in sonic immersion. An […]

Music News

DUSTED ANGEL: new album + track announced on HPS Records

Santa Cruz, California’s stoner rock veterans DUSTED ANGEL (with Bl’ast frontman Clifford Dinsmore) return after fifteen years with their new album This Side Of The Dirt this September 19th on Heavy Psych Sounds, and unleash a rip-roaring first track with ‘Death Crushed Hope’. Blast DUSTED ANGEL’s new single ‘Death Crushed Hope’ Says frontman Clifford Dinsmore: “‘Death Crushed Hope’ was always meant to be an uplifting song. It was inspired by the frustration I felt with getting older and the pain we all feel losing friends and loved ones along the way. Later, during my personal battles with cancer, it provided […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Incinerated – The Epitome Of Transgression

Indonesia’s INCINERATED turned more than a few third eyes inward 2020’s Stellar Abomination. The sheer sonic intrusion held me rapt, elements of Germanic thrash ‘n’ speed – especially in the ragged rage of it all (think KREATOR, Invincible Force DESTRUCTION), but I simply couldn’t get past the way the drums were mixed; not the playing, mind, but the sound itself. Repeated listens brought change and, these days, I fail to remember exactly what I found so irritating about the drums at first. ‘Preludium: The Saint’s Humanity’ does exactly what an intro track (if there must be one) should do, building […]

Music News

APPALOOZA: new single ‘Tarantula’ streaming, The Emperor Of Loss release impending

Brittany-based heavy rock powerhouse APPALOOZA deliver a roaring new excerpt taken from their forthcoming fourth album The Emperor Of Loss, to be issued on September 12th through Ripple Music. Listen to APPALOOZA’s new single ‘Tarantula’ APPALOOZA are purveyors of a massive and fire-driven sound that blends stoner rock, grunge rock, metal and tribal percussions in a highly organic way, all propelled by Wild Horse’s magnetic baritone vocals. Their new album, The Emperor of Loss, is powerful and visceral concept album that explores the psychological depths of emotional captivity, domestic violence, and the mourning of one’s identity. Through a circular narrative, […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Blind Equation – A Funeral In Purgatory

This was one of the most painful listening experiences I’ve had in a while. I really debated whether I should review this at all, as musically this is my version of Kryptonite. I don’t really enjoy doing super negative reviews. But BLIND EQUATION described themselves as “cybergrind”. With that bit of blatant mislabeling, all bets are off. There’s about as much grind in this as a TAYLOR SWIFT album. Which is to say, none. You want grind? Put in the latest from CAUSTIC WOUND…a tenth of a second of that would annihilate this. I can’t believe this is a Chicago […]

Music News

Thrash Titans VINDICATOR to Return with Whispers Of Death – New Song Streaming

Ohio’s thrash torchbearers VINDICATOR are gearing up for the release of Whispers Of Death, the band’s fifth and most destructive full-length album. Known for their firebranded approach to songwriting and relentless energy, VINDICATOR delivers an album true to their roots. This is raw, aggressive thrash — no filler, no compromise and no bullshit. Thrash or be thrashed. VINDICATOR has shared a stream of the album’s first single, the aptly titled ‘Thirst For Violence’. The band comments on the song, “’Thirst For Violence’ is, as the song title implies, a song about absolute destruction helmed by a race of creatures who […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Affliction Vector – Contra Hominem

Using the time-honored (or dishonored, should your tastes lean – or not lean – in that direction) two-piece drummer and vocalist/axe-wielder template popularized by DARKTHRONE, Italy’s blackdeath force, AFFLICTION VECTOR, return five years after their Death Comes Supreme EP with debut full-length, Contra Hominem. ‘Antiuomo’ begins, almost KING DIAMOND-esque, what might be a harpsichord providing disjointed, broken dance music for twisted marionets before being blasted by martial drum cadence and vocals more howled than screeched. Throat scraper Ans must’ve really taken his psychiatrist’s words about Primal Scream therapy to heart, as that’s what’s going on here, and to disquieting effect. […]

Music News

BLIND EQUATION: Chicago Cybergrind Trio Unleashes ‘Flashback (Feat. Strawberry Hospital)’ Video/Single; A Funeral In Purgatory Full-Length To See Release On July 18th

Chicago’s BLIND EQUATION returns in 2025 with A Funeral In Purgatory, perhaps their most ambitious release to date. The band’s third LP is scheduled for release on July 18th on Prosthetic Records. A Funeral In Purgatory sees the band exploring new territory by adding more gothic metal and death/doom elements to their boundless and ever-growing cybergrind sound. The band’s key songwriter, James McHenry, describes the new record as “the heaviest and most brutal BLIND EQUATION album to date, while simultaneously being the most soft and heartfelt, which perfectly encapsulates the emotions felt throughout the LP. It’s intense, it’s obnoxious, but […]

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