Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

independent

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 […]

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 […]

Music News

Stoner/Doom Metal Powerhouse, THORNDALE, Announce New Album, Spiritual Chains

THORNDALE, the Netherlands-based stoner/doom metal powerhouse, is thrilled to announce the September 12 release of their sophomore album, Spiritual Chains. A music video for the album’s first single, ‘Veins Of The Phoenix’, is available HERE This highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2024 debut, Lightning Spawn, promises a darker and more mature sound, showcasing the band’s evolving artistry and the addition of a second guitar player to their lineup. Comprised of seasoned musicians from notable acts such as Adarrak, Killing Darlings, Embers Of Oblivion, Epinikion, and Primal Charge, their unique blend of heavy, stoner, and doom metal has resonated […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Walking Bombs – Blessings Bestrewn Part 1

While being extremely new to shapeshifter(s) WALKING BOMBS, courtesy of the January 2025 mixtape Bong Hits For The Death Of Imperialism, I quickly realized there was something possibly fantastic to be discovered. I mined the Brave Hours record of 2017, surprised to find more of a “true” band setup (whatever that is anymore), and found the indie-folk of ‘Loveislove’ childlike that best way, simple and strong enough to be. ‘Flower Punx 4ever’ became a memory trip through my own days of coming up in that glorious era of skaters/BMXers who jammed RUN DMC, CIRCLE JERKS and HUSKER DU on the […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: The Medea Project – Kharon

THE MEDEA PROJECT lists its beginning as 2003, however, the UK duo’s first long-player didn’t arrive until 2020’s Sisyphus. Enjoyable, succinct, thinking neither too highly of itself, nor too headily about the sound it was crafting, the band – while not going leagues beyond in a search for a singular sound – used economy to its advantage on the debut. EPs Southern Echoes (2021) and Reflections (2023) acted as sonic travelogues, showing that THE MEDEA PROJECT was beginning to search its own heart to discover what blood flowed through. Anguished vocals submerged in a wet fog moan/cry from behind the […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Rum Runners – Wreck And Revere [EP]

Well, ALESTORM’s gone to shite long ago, SWASHBUCKLE’s last yawnfest was a song about the movie Starship Troopers, and YE BANISHED PRIVATEERS – while fantastic – aren’t what I’d call metal, so it’s about time for another pirate-themed crew, aye? RUM RUNNERS think so, returning after 2015’s The Quest For Mead with Wreck And Revere, new crewmates aboard, and ready to (hopefully) hoist my not so Jolly but quite formidable Roger. ‘In Sirens’ Wake’ eschews the trappings of for a feisty, thrash-injected thrust of the prow into the open seas, a bit of EDGUY (sans comedic tomfoolery) in their delivery, […]

Music News

Phoenix Psychedelic Alternative Rock Act, Media, Releases Eponymous CD Collecting All Three Parts Of Sixth Mass Extinction Concept Trilogy

Phoenix, Arizona based psychedelic/alternative rock trio MEDIA presents an eponymous CD collecting the three parts of their concept trilogy documenting the Sixth Mass Extinction in one album. MEDIA was founded by Billy Tegethoff (The Oxford Coma) and Richard Wnuk who performed this first piece of the triptych, with Tegethoff handling guitar, bass, and vocals, Wnuk playing drums, and both contributing various synthesizers and electronics throughout the release. Wnuk had a very clear picture of how he wanted the record to sound, so he wore the producer hat throughout a very meticulous mixing process. Following the recording of Influence, the duo […]

Short Sharp Shocks

Turkey Vulture – Dead To Me [EP]

Ya just gotta give Connecticut’s TURKEY VULTURE props for doing it the right way – honing its sound over 4 EPs and a smattering of singles since 2019, not over-anxious to jump into the album format, when it may never suit them. ‘Jill The Ripper (Heavy Take)’ doesn’t come with the promised “doom’s crushing weight”, but the snarl in the vox of drummer Jim Clegg more than suffice, the tune rampant with dirty punk ‘n’ roll ala VANDALS and CIRCLE JERKS (VI era). The title track finds guitarist/bassist Jessie May joining on vocals and boasts a chorus as catchy as […]

Short Sharp Shocks

Royal Blunder – Only More Is Enough [EP]

You’ve got four songs and I’ve only got 120 words, ROYAL BLUNDER, so let’s cut to the chase. Where do you get off cranking out a syncopated rocker like ‘The Clock’ right from the start? I’m hearing DANIEL AMOS here, but sweetened with just enough sugar to make the whole thing go down oh, so smooth. And that title track, the fiery guitar lead-in, that’s just uncalled for! Give us a minute to catch up, fellas, our media-addled brains can’t take all these goodtime grooves and positivity at once! The psych/pop of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ bleeds XTC, and ‘Blink’ capping this […]

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