Pleb - Grease Trap (EP Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Human Worth. Formats: Cassette/DD

Grease Trap - Tracklist

1.CLODS OF SHIT AND BONE

2.THE BRUISES MEAN IT'S ON THE WAY OUT

3.THE EYES MELT FIRST

4.PUT IT BACK

5.EVOLUTIONARY ROADBLOCK

6.THE STREETS AREN'T RELIABLE IN THE SLIGHTEST

7.YOU AND ME BABY AIN'T NOTHING BUT CANNIBALS 02:11

8.BELLY UP

Lineup

Delia Fraser - Guitar / Feedback Hell

Steve Myles - Drums / Sqwaks and Grunts 

Review

Grease Trap is the debut EP from Punk/Grind/Doom/Sludge Metallers Pleb and it’s a brutal exercise in pure filth and sonic distortion with a manic Punk Metal sound at its main core. The music is violently intense and it revels in delivering a pure grimy experience from beginning to end. Pleb operate in a no holds barred world where the production values are quite lo-fi which gives them such a NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude with their music. However, it brilliantly works as PLEB manages to combine areas of Grind, Sludge, Doom, Punk, Thrash and even small amounts of Psychedelic beats into a cohesive style of music that pulls no punches.

The vocals are shouted with extreme confidence that it gives the the whole EP a bombastic attitude that develops into violent levels of twisted Sludge Metal carnage on tracks such as Clods Of Shit And Bone, The Bruises Mean It’s On The Way Out, Put It Back and Evolutionary Roadblock being the most threatening, aggressive, seedy and superbly entertaining tracks on the EP. This is where PLEB show their real selves especially with Delia Fraser’s sublime guitars and twisted feedback skills that puts the amplifiers through their fucking destructive paces. 

Steve Myles also excels on vocal duties and drums which gives the EP it’s whole grindcore spirit but everything staying true to the Doom/Sludge Metal world but with a more abstract filth ridden PUNK METAL spirit which Grease Trap delivers right to the very end. 

The EP lasts under fifteen minutes but that’s more than enough time for Pleb to get shit done and leave the audience in a violent and catatonic state where they once again offer no apologies.

The whole thing is brilliantly seedy and the lo-fi production values make this an unpredictable force of nature. I would have liked a couple of more songs on the EP as the whole thing suddenly ends when things start getting truly exciting. However, it’s always best leaving the audience wanting more and that’s what Pleb has fully achieved with this great slice of extreme metal the underground scene will go absolutely crazy for.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Nominal Anomaly - Swamp (Album Review)

Release Date: May 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Swamp - Tracklist

1.Headcold 03:08

2.BULLfrog 03:19

3.BTW 03:42

4.Crowded 03:05

5.Carnated 03:01

6.Night Sweats 04:07

7.Oblique Mass of Foundation 03:10

8.Sleepwalker 03:54

9.Soulless Shoe Sale 03:45

10.Suits 03:56

11.Therapy 03:48

12.Andone 03:16

Lineup

All music, vocals, visuals, art are done by Nominal Anomaly (NO AI)

Review

Swamp is the debut album from Punk/Grunge/Metal solo artist Nominal Anomaly who play a schizophrenic type of Heavy Rock with a distorted and frenzied underground element holding everything together. The record is most definitely a product of living through the Nineties Rock/Metal scene. The best way to describe what’s in store for you on this record is to read the recent “Introduce Yourselves” feature the band kindly contributed to.

This is quite a hard record to describe but from the Introduce Yourselves article the band state the following how to describe their music.

“The genre is difficult to pinpoint. Best I could offer is Grunge Metal, as their is some of that old 90's song structure with blues / rock influence.  Some songs blend more into Punk Metal.  I'm a conglomeration of the 90's mostly.”

The overall sound is one of pure mayhem and fucked off carnage with Nominal Anomaly inspired by the likes of PRIMUS and FAITH NO MORE as the record does go into multiple different directions. However, there’s some excellent Post-Grunge and Alt-Rock sounds along the way which reminds me of The Melvins jamming with The Pixies. The vocals are quite hardcore based with outbursts of manic punk energy which could easily be considered as the perfect soundtrack trying to escape from a mental asylum.

However, this brilliantly works with Nominal Anomaly even allowing brutal outbursts ofExtreme Metal and Grind Metal grooves to appear. One moment you’re treated to a vicious blast of Hardcore Punk spliced with Sludge, Thrash and Grind passages before the record transforms into a subtle Heavy Psychedelic and spiky Grunge Rock attitude.

Swamp does feel a bit too long at times but the sheer fun and outrageous creative momentum that’s played here on this record does have a warped sense of humour developing from the very start. The lyrics are completely off the wall and brilliantly surreal which matches the madcap energy the Nineties Metal scene used to throw at an unsuspecting audience back in the day.

The Funk Rock and Prog Metal aspects that appear on the record does become a bit overbearing in places but that won’t stop your enjoyment of this weird, wonderful and violently wacky journey that Nominal Anomaly takes you upon. You could consider an experimental record and there are moments even I don’t know what the fuck is happening but I couldn’t stop listening to this especially on tracks: Headcold, BULLfrog, Carnated, Night Sweats, Oblique Mass Of Foundation, Suits and Therapy.

These tracks are the ones I found the most enjoyment from as Nominal Anomaly does play their heart out on this release and they’re a fantastically talented individual where the music is just so bat-shit crazy and brilliantly original at the same time.

Swamp won’t appeal to everyone but if you’re a fan of the Nineties Rock/Metal scene and not adverse for this album to take you into some pretty unexpected areas of HEAVY METAL then NOMINAL ANOMALY will speak volumes to you.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

www.nominalanomaly.com
https://www.facebook.com/NominalAnomaly
Nominalanomaly.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/thenominalanomaly/
https://mastodon.social/@NominalAnomaly

Lair Of The Minotaur - I HAIL I (Album Review)

Release Date: May 01st 2026. Record Label: The Grind-House Records. Formats: DD

I HAIL I - Tracklisting

1.Emperor of Dis

2.I HAIL I 

3.Enthroned in Violence

4.Fucked Inside Out

5.Deepest Hell

6.Saturnus Reign

7.Prowler Twin Sister 

8.Family Tree

9.Vulture Worship

10.Tartarus Apocalypse

Members

Steven Rathbone - Guitar, Vocals, Synth

Chris Wozniak - Drums

Sanford Parker - Bass

Review

I-HAIL-I marks the triumphant return of Thrash/Sludge Metal heavyweights Lair Of The Minotaur with this being their first album in sixteen years and they’ve lost none of their fucked up aggression which was captured perfectly with their landmark 2010 album Evil Power. Nothing much has changed with how the band playing their classic trademark and pissed off HEAVY METAL sound. Lair Of The Minotaur have added metal legend Sanford Parker joining their ranks on bass. Sanford also recorded and mixed the album which you can tell from the very start after all the amazing albums and records he’s been involved with over the years.

This record is pure CARNAGE from start to finish with Lair Of The Minotaur perfecting their highly aggressive blend and fast paced Thrash and Sludge Metal which also adds strands of Grind, Doom, Psych, Punk and Speed Metal. The mood is quite nihilistic with a dark sludgy environment which is laid down with a dominating HARDCORE METALLIC ferocity which comes across brilliantly well on tracks such as Emperor Of Dis, I-HAIL-I and Enthroned In Violence.

There are some great influences which you can’t help but notice from bands such as MOTORHEAD, HIGH ON FIRE, SLAYER and METALLICA but Lair Of The Minotaur always manage to create their own menacing blend of extreme magic which relies heavily on the extreme side of heavy metal. The band love to GRIND, GRIND and GRIND some more on the whole album which results in some brilliantly heavy THRASH based madness with superb vocals to match.

I HAIL I only lasts around thirty minutes spread across ten great tracks with the majority of them only running under a few minutes or so. Lair Of The Minotaur comes flying out of the gate with this perhaps being their most direct, extreme, aggressive and riff-fuelled record to date.

The album thrives on perfecting it’s “PULL NO PUNCHES” and “TAKE NO PRISONERS” approach on other tracks such as Fucked Inside Out, Deepest Hell and Prowler Twin Sister. These tracks are the pure embodiment of Extreme Doom/Sludge Metal with Lair Of The Minotaur allowing themselves to move themselves closer to a more straightforward riff-driven style of music.

There’s even a great surprise with the band performing a cover of Alt Rock/Indie Rock artist Ethel Cain’s stunning track “Family Tree”. This is one of the best tracks on the album as it’s so left-field for Lair Of The Minotaur to choose to cover. Their version of the song is vastly different with the band keeping with the Doom, Sludge and Thrash Metal narrative of the whole album though it pays great respect to the original version which I recommend you comparing them against each other when you have the time. Lair Of The Minotaur does start showing a Post-Thrash and Post-Sludge environment within Family Tree and I would love to see them explore that style more often on future releases if possible.

The final track Tartarus Apocalypse is the longest track on the album running for almost eight minutes which allows the band to stretch their musical boundaries by adding a slight Progressive edge to their music. The sound is grounded, bombastic and even psychedelic charged at times with Lair Of The Minotaur exploring different creative avenues whilst bringing a thunderous and destructive appetite to the actual musical journey.

I HAIL I could be considered a "comeback" album for Lair Of The Minotaur and it’s a major success on every level. The record is extremely brutal and is never afraid to explore a more violent and extreme sound which the band have always delivered throughout their celebrated career. However, there’s more to discover with I HAIL I with Lair Of The Minotaur delivering an epic album that’s packed full of intense grooves and wicked melodies that could easily be classed as some of the best music of their entire career.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

I HAIL I is available to buy now digitally via The Grind-House Records with physical formats being released at a later date.

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Hibernaut / Face Pulp Split (Album Review)

Release Date: February 27th 2026. Record Label: What’s Left Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl/Tape

Hibernaut / Face Pulp - Tracklisting

Hibernaut - Mark of Shame 

Hibernaut - Intermundium

Hibernaut - Tongueless

Hibernaut - Bastardized Cultivation

Face Pulp - Ups and Downs and Crap

Face Pulp - Dicks, Pins, and Needles

Face Pulp - The One You Forgot 

Face Pulp - I'll Need Proof of Humanity

Face Pulp - Stereotypical Paths

Face Pulp Members

Steve - Vocals

MT - Guitar

Landyn - Bass

Randy - Drums

Hibernaut Members

Dave Jones - Guitar, Vocals

Zach Hatsis - Drums

Josh Dupree - Bass

Matt Miller - Lead Guitar

Review

This split album featuring Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metallers HIBERNAUT and Grindcore/Punk/Sludge Metallers FACE PULP is an interesting record with both bands coming from different musical backgrounds though they compliment each other very well. I consider myself a fan of Hibernaut but Face Pulp are an entirely new band for me as I’m not really into the whole Grindcore scene now.

Hibernaut offer the “SLUDGE METAL / STONER METAL” side of the record taking influence from the likes of SLEEP, HIGH ON FIRE, MASTODON and NEUROSIS. Their side of the album is spread across four tracks running around twenty three minutes of great music. The band play to their strengths with stripped back production values that gives a raw sludgy atmosphere developing from the opening track Mark Of Shame which does have an early “NEUROSIS” influence especially with the vocals and how the music is aggressively played.

This style of sound is the dominant style of music that Hibernaut superbly delivers throughout their entire set with mighty slabs of Prog Metal forming within the standout tracks of Interundium and Bastardized Civilization. The band have written some pretty hard-hitting lyrics for this record especially when compared to their previous albums. Hibernaut take creative cues from HIGH ON FIRE and MASTODON especially when the music changes into a heavier THRASH style with echoes of THUGGISH Stoner Metal grooves finally showing up. 

The band do experiment with their music by adding some cool sounding organs into the mix within Interunidum. The record changes into a Occult Doom Metal record for one of the best parts of Hibernaut’s set. Hibernaut once again prove what a great band they truly are with a highly unapologetic performance that leaves you wanting more. 

As I stated previously, I haven’t listened to Face Pulp before and this is my first experience with them but truth be told, these guys are FUCKING AWESOME. I loved their side of the record so much. Face Pulp provides five tracks and within true Grind/Death/Hardcore Punk fashion, their side only lasts thirteen minutes. 

Their style of Grind, Death. Sludge, and Hardcore Punk equals PURE FUCKING CARNAGE and VIOLENT BRUTALITY. There’s also some great rhythms and rocking melodies along the way especially on their tracks “Ups And Downs And Craps”, The One You Forgot and I’ll Need Proof Of Humanity.

Face Pulp live upto their “GRIND” and “DEATH METAL” influences in a huge way with big and brutal slamming riffs from the very start. Their music is the very definition of “MOSH PIT MUSIC”. As you can feel the intensity of their music being played at a very fast pace. It left me breathless at times. However, Face Pulp does slow the mood right down for a wicked Sludge Metal sound to fully emerge and take control in small doses.

Once Face Pulp’s set had finished, I needed a brief rest to collect my thoughts and question what I just listened to. I mean that as a huge complement. The production values are solid with Face Pulp having a raw aesthetic and violent energy that perfectly matches Hibernaut’s side of the split.

This is a great album featuring two amazing bands from different sides of the musical spectrum that should expand their fan base even more. And what’s most important for me is that I’ve become a fan of Face Pulp because of this outstanding album. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Hibernaut / Face Pulp Split Album is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl/Tape via What's Left Records via the links below:

Face Pulp BandCamp Page / Hibernaut BandCamp Page

Hibernaut Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Linktree

Face Pulp Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify

Utah’s stoner juggernauts Hibernaut and Arizona’s grinding death-dealers Face Pulp to release split LP March 6th

In Spring 2026, out of the American West rises a two-headed beast of riffs and rage. Joining forces for a split LP, Utah’s stoner juggernauts Hibernaut and Arizona’s grinding death-dealers Face Pulp join forces to release an album made of noise and nasty intentions

Following up Hibernaut’s lauded “Obsidian Eye” and Face Pulp’s split with AZ native grind thrashers DogsThrowSpears, the two outfits deliver a collection of 9 tracks from their respective dark corners of the heavy underground, captured on vinyl through Colorado Springs’ What’s Left Records.

Hibernaut

Hibernaut is a doom/sludge/stoner metal band from Salt Lake City, Utah, known for their crushing riffs, psychedelic edges, and progressive heaviness. Formed in 2021 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Jones (Subrosa, Dwellers) and drummer Zach Hatsis (Subrosa, Dwellers), the lineup solidified with bassist Josh Dupree and lead guitarist Matt Miller (Thunderfist, Oldtimer). Their debut album “Ingress” (2023) earned strong acclaim and reached #15 on The Doom Charts.

Their follow-up, “Obsidian Eye”, was released on July 11, 2025, and immediately landed at #7 on that month’s Doom Charts—marking a major leap forward for the band. With towering riffs, immersive dynamics, and deep underground roots, Hibernaut continue to carve their own path in modern doom.

Hibernaut will also be playing the first annual HUFR Fest in Denver, Colorado on April 24th at bar 404 and are working on their 3rd full length studio album.

Face Pulp

Face Pulp started (officially) in October of 2021. Prior to that, guitarist MT and drummer Randy had tried to start the band back in 2019. When the epidemic hit, they took a year and a half away from it, and by October 2021 they had their first full band practice as Face Pulp. In 2023 they released their full length "Eye Grabbing Detail," played a series of regional shows in the southwest including a 10 day SW tour, and were pivotal in booking the "Burning Pines" festival in Flagstaff, AZ in an attempt to bring some of their favorite near by bands together all under one roof from every corner, reservation, and major city in Arizona.

In 2024, reaching for higher ambitions they released a split 7" with their friends in DogsThrowSpears from Fort Defiance, AZ, and in Sept/Oct Landyn (from DogsThrowSpears) joined the band. Throughout 2025 they have been playing consistently all over the region, ran another southwest tour, and had the opportunity to open up for acts like Gatecreeper, Soulfly, and Go Ahead and Die. With big tour plans for 2026 in the midwest and Europe, the release of this split LP, and recording for a full length, who knows what will come next. Face Pulp mixes genres of hardcore punk, grindcore, thrash, and hints of OSDM.

Hibernaut / Face Pulp Split

Album out March 6th, 2026
Vinyl on What’s Left Records
Also on CD, Cassette, & Digital

Hibernaut Info

Salt Lake City, Utah
FFO: High On Fire, Conan, YOB, Mastodon, SLEEP, Neurosis

Dave Jones - Guitar, Vocals
Zach Hatsis - Drums
Josh Dupree - Bass
Matt Miller - Lead Guitar

Face Pulp 

Flagstaff, Arizona
FFO: Pig Destroyer, Insect Warfare, Iron Buddha, Knoll, Dripping Decay, Undergang

Steve - Vocals
MT - Guitar
Landyn - Bass
Randy - Drums

Hibernaut Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Linktree

Face Pulp Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify

Thanks to Good Boy PR For The Details.

Extreme Noise Terror - Extreme Noise Terror (Album Review)

Release date: November 05th 2015. Label: Willowtip. Format: CD/DD

Extreme Noise Terror – S/T – Tracklisting

1. Punk Rock Patrol

2. Dogma, Intolerance, Control

3. No One Is Innocent

4. I Like Coca (Outo “I Like Cola”)

5. Think Outside The Box

6. Chained & Crazed

7. An Endless Cycle Of Misery

8. Sheep In Wolf’s Clothing

9. Cash And Trash

10. Cruel And Unusual Punishment

11. Last Fix Of Fame

12. Cage Paralysis

13. Only In It For The Music Pt. 27 (Black Putrefaction)

Band Members:

Dean - Vocals, Ben - Vocals, Ollie - Guitar, Andi - Bass

Review:

As one of the most influential UK punk/hardcore/grind bands that there has ever been, second only to the mighty Discharge in terms of the sheer number of bands that they have influenced I would say, it is refreshing to hear that the legendary Extreme Noise Terror are back with their first new album in six years and even more refreshing to hear that the bands brand of the obnoxious mix of hardcore punk and grindcore is still as fast, loud and nasty as it has ever been.

It is also refreshing to hear that vocalist Dean Jones sounds as good as ever, angrier, hungrier and more vital to be exact and with Jones and new co-vocalist Ben McCrow (formerly of Gorerotted and then the Rotted) barking out this new set of grind anthems that is as raw and intense as anything from the bands heyday, it will bring a smile to the face and a ringing in the ears of any punk/grind fiend.

Extreme Noise a Terror don't fuck about on this self titled album and straight from the start on the opening detonation of Punk Rock Patrol, the band are on all out attack mode and this relentless attack doesn't stop until the last bit of feedback on closing track Only In It For The Music, Pt 27 (Black Putrefaction) has subsided.

The likes of An Endless Cycle Of Misery, Sheep In Wolves Clothing, Last Fix Of Fame and Dogma, Intolerance, Control are all classic Extreme Noise Terror with Jones on fine form, sounding unhinged and with more energy than a man half his age and is aided brilliantly by McCrow, both vocalists barking out the lyrics with intense aplomb and the furious hardcore holocaust of the rest of the band backs the vocalists up in gloriously intense style.

With this album Extreme Noise Terror have made an album that sees the band at the top of their game with a set of raw hardcore punk anthems that shows that the bands music is still as relevant as when they first started 30 years ago and the fact that their message is still the same as when they first started is admirable and the fact there are still so many problems in this country nowadays as there were when ENT started, it's good to have them back and kicking against the pricks that run the country in their own defiant style.

Words by Gavin Brown

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo. Extreme Noise Terror is available to buy now on CD/DD from Willowtip.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp