Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

Reigning Phoenix Music

Short Sharp Shocks

EX DEO – Year Of The Four Emperors [EP]

EX DEO has always been a band with no reason to exist to my ears, largely as it’s literally KATAKLYSM with one extra member. I will say this for opener ‘Galba’, though; it’s more enjoyable than most of what’s come from either band in over a decade. ‘Otho’ is lackluster, basic and by-the-numbers, while ‘Vitellius’ begins with a fucking stellar low-end groove, and does return variations on this from time to time. Too little too late at this point, though. Obviously a vanity project from its start, EX DEO continues its own revelry in glut with Year Of The Bored […]

Music News

CYHRA (Featuring Former Amaranthe and In Flames Members) Sign To RPM + Release New Standalone Single, ‘Superman’

CYHRA, the champions of melodic metal, have unleashed their latest single ‘Superman’, heralding a new era since the release of their third album, The Vertigo Trigger. The track explodes with headbang-inducing riffs, as vocalist Jake E teases its epic, melody-rich chorus against a backdrop of sharp instrumentals. The almost spoken verses escalate to a larger-than-life chorus, culminating in irresistible, sing-along choirs that emphatically signal CYHRA’s trajectory is set to soar above and beyond at breakneck speed! “Sometimes, life tests our limits, but when we choose to rise, dream, and believe, we find the strength to be unstoppable. Because deep down, […]

Music News

OCTOPLOID – ‘Coast Of The Drowned Sailors’ [feat. Tomi Koivusaari] lyric video & first headline tour

OCTOPLOID, fronted by bassist Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine (known for his work with AMORPHIS, BARREN EARTH, and MANNHAI), are wrapping up an eventful 2024 with the release of a brand-new lyric video for ‘Coast Of The Drowned Sailors.’ This year marked the release of their highly praised debut album, Beyond The Aeons, as well as their first live performance. Taken from the album featuring an impressive roster of prestigious guest musicians, ‘Coast Of The Drowned Sailors’ highlights vocals by none other than Laine’s AMORPHIS bandmate, Tomi Koivusaari. Known for his iconic growls, Koivusaari lends his signature style to the track, creating […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Octoploid – Beyond The Aeons

Merriam-Webster defines pedigree in part as “2a: an ancestral line (Lineage) b: the origin and the history of something”. Well, when the bloodline of a band includes current/past members of AMORPHIS and SWALLOW THE SUN (among others), to say that OCTOPLOID has “an impressive pedigree” is a bit of an understatement. Still, that’s no guarantee that what emerges will be anything more than a blending together of two already near-cousins in sound; possibly even something that would’ve worked better kept within each’s respective outfit. Alright, that’s the last of the comparisons made, now let’s get to the important thing – […]

Music News

WOLFHEART Share Draconian Darkness Album Details & Launch Pre-Orders; First Digital Single, ‘Grave’, To Arrive On June 7

Summer may be just beginning, but Finnish melodic death metal maestros WOLFHEART are already looking ahead to the release of their new album Draconian Darkness. Recorded at Deep Noise Studios and produced, mixed, and mastered by the band’s long-time collaborator Saku Moilanen, the album will be released on September 6, 2024, via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), just as the somber season returns. The album’s first single, ‘Grave’, will be available on June 7 and captures the raw intensity of dark winter nights combined with the majestic beauty of nature. You can pre-save the track HERE Pre-order Draconian Darkness in the […]