Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

lord randall

Album Reviews

Album Review: Kontusion – Insatiable Lust For Death

Heard of KONTUSION before? Yeah, me neither, but apparently the gruesome twosome of Mark Brozino (formerly of IRON REAGAN and MAMMOTH GRINDER) and drummer Chris Moore from a somewhat important band named REPULSION have been touring like fools across the US since a self-titled demo was spewed forth in 2022. And now, to add to the glut of death metal of the past few years, we’re provided Insatiable Lust For Death. Hey, if it sucks, it’s less than a half-hour long, right? I’ll suffer for your edification. Proud students of the get in, grind, get out school, ‘Endless Horror’ dispenses […]

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: 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: 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. […]

Uncategorized

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 Witch – III

‘Cross the misted moors and moonlit eventides cometh Scotland’s KING WITCH, now trimmed to a trio and releasing its third album – aptly titled III – like hound’s breath at thine heels. Eventually I’ll get around to sharing in detail my Third Album Hypothesis, which has served me well since the late ‘80s, and will hopefully prove true here. 2025 also marks the ten-year anniversary of the band, making III doubly (triply?) important. With a natural, anticipatory build to the song itself, ‘Suffer In Life’ moves from a regal entrance to a self-assured, mid-paced stride, vocalist Laura Donnelly shrugging off […]

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 […]

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