Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

Edged Circle Productions

Album Reviews

Album Review: Bodyfarm – Ultimate Abomination

Returning with its fifth full-length in just over a decade, Netherlands death machine BODYFARM brings hopes to bring us Ultimate Abomination. ‘Torment’ begins the assault, the scattershot sound of European death (early WOMBBATH a reference point), but mixed with the grime of OBITUARY’s pre-The End Complete years making no secret of the band’s influences. There’s a freshness to it, though, ‘Symbolical Warfare’ a head-down, forward-charging rager ala SLAYER before they lost their balls, new drummer David Schermann keeping the tank rolling forward and furiously. You don’t just walk into a band like BODYFARM with no preparation, and – as a […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: HALLUX VALGUS – Reflections Of Distant Dreams

Okay, so the cat got me. I mean, look. On the cover. It’s a cat. And it looks like my cat, for fuck’s sake. I’ve been going through a late ‘60s-early ‘70s psych/folk phase for the past year or two such as INCREDIBLE STRING BAND blended with monster ‘70s guitar rock ala CROW and RAM JAM, and the art of this first widely-available edition left me unsure what to expect, but intrigued enough to press Play. A hard-charging riff sets Reflections Of Distant Dreams off at a gallop, ‘Ghastly Reflections’ harking back to the days when thrash/speed was beginning its […]

Music News

DARKENED set release date for EDGED CIRCLE debut album, reveal first track

Edged Circle Productions announces September 11th as the international release date for the highly anticipated debut album of pan-international quintet DARKENED, Kingdom Of Decay. It was but the summer of 2019 when DARKENED burst onto the international stage with their debut EP for Edged Circle, Into The Blackness. Although an otherwise-brand-new entity at the time, DARKENED boasted a wealth of experience in the death metal underground, comprising drummer Andy Whale (ex-Bolt Thrower / Memoriam), bassist Daryl Kahan (ex-Disma / Funebrarum), vocalist Gord Olson (Ye Goat-Herd Gods / Demisery), and guitarists Linus Nirbrant (A Canorous Quintet / This Ending) and Hempa […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: AngelBlast – Rotting Paradise

A word on ANGELBLAST. Well, not much more than “a word”, as the entity has only just been shat forth from creation’s uterus, and all we really know is that it features in its ranks members of EXCRUCIATE and DARKENED. No surprise, then, that what’s on offer is death metal. Because the world needs another death metal band like it needs another hole in the head. To its credit, though, the title track of Rotting Paradise cranks up with a seconds-long snare roll, then gets down to the skullcrush. Subterfuge melodies writhe beneath the surface of passionately-delivered death reminiscent of […]

Music News

ANGELBLAST set release date for EDGED CIRCLE debut EP – features members of Sweden’s EXCRUCIATE and DARKENED

Edged Circle Productions announces December 20th as the international release date for ANGELBLAST’s striking debut EP, Rotting Paradise, on 7″ vinyl and digital formats. Although a brand-new entity, ANGELBLAST hold a wealth of experience within their ranks, featuring members from old-school Swedeath cult Excruciate as well as fellow labelmates Darkened. And one listen to the swift ‘n’ slaying Rotting Paradise is proof enough of those deeply entrenched Metal of Death values: throttling and propulsive, winding and dynamic, clear yet crushing, malevolently melodic, and with mind-melted solos to literally die for, ANGELBLAST rip through two tracks (plus eerie outro) with a […]