Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

2025

Short Sharp Shocks

FALL & RESIST – Dissolved In Misery [EP]

Australian quintet FALL & RESIST returns with its third EP. At under 20 minutes there’s no time to waste, but the first 0:54 of ‘Living The Lie’ are perfect, building up from a scratchy vinyl to so keys, then finally exploding with a robustness the band hasn’t displayed previously. The guitars could’ve been more forward in this mix, but it’s a small complaint. There’s a bit of NWOAHM in ‘Moments Of Clarity’, yet nary a breakdown, the band clearly having spent time trying to hew out their own sound in a cluttered scene. ‘Cogs In The Machine’ ups the ante […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Vindicator – Whispers Of Death

It’s an all out thrash attack from this long-running Ohio band, and they really know what they’re doing. You don’t have to get too deep into Whispers Of Death to realize this is a veteran band that focuses on the essence of thrash. There’s no attempt to update the sound, smooth things out or add some grand concept to what they’re doing…they’re in it to whoop ass and that’s about it. You might not be able to sit down for a week after the ass-whooping delivered here. When VINDICATOR is operating at its peak, they rival EXODUS as far as […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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Bludgeoned By Deformity – Epoch Of Immorality [EP]

Comprising members of TOMB SENTINEL and PIG DESTROYER among others, you already get an idea of where BLUDGEONED BY DEFORMITY heading. ‘Invocation Of Suffering’ rains down sonic abuse from the start, vocalist Devin Swank a mixture of burled and gnarled GADGET-styled grind and guttural death, while ‘Immortality’ leans more toward MALEVOLENT CREATION / MONSTROSITY at times, an interesting and terrifying combination. ‘Intestinal Suspension’ is perfectly situated as the centerpiece, careening wildly between pinch harmonic-driven acceleration and a churning visceral ground ‘n’ pound. That the tone of the stringed instruments, nay, every element within the whole of the EP is malevolence […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Mugshot – All The Devils Are Here

Much like any genre, the glut experienced in what called itself metalcore during the NWOAHM in the mid-‘00s was fit to burst straight through the stomach lining of heavy music, and it seemed like every new band wanted to be JOB FOR AN AUTOPSY IN THE WHITECHAPEL. Arriving as they did a decade after, MUGSHOT had the chance to make something fresh and took it on 2016’s Dull Boy. And now, nearly ten years later, the Texans return with All The Devils Are Here. ‘Die In Fear’ suffices, pinch harmonics and bulldog barking vocals, but seems to never put much […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: King Parrot – A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot

The PARROT squawks again! I thought this bird had almost ceased to exist (there’s a comedy sketch in here somewhere!) but it’s just too mean to die! Not only that, but A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot shows that they are angrier, louder and more vitriolic than ever. If there was ever such a thing as a bird that could get rabies, KING PARROT would be that bird! The band has always been manic and violent, but this new one pushes them further than ever. I would still call them grindcore, but there’s no band that sounds quite like […]

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