BRAT Unleashes Hell with 'Manslayer': A Death Metal Manifesto
Emerging from the shadows of New Orleans, BRAT has stormed the metal scene with their sophomore release, 'Manslayer', a visceral eruption that solidifies their presence in the grindcore and death metal arenas. Two years after their initial offering, 'Social Grace', which caught attention but ultimately fell flat, BRAT has returned with a ferocity that was heralded but never fully realized. Led by the unapologetic Liz Selfish, 'Manslayer' is a tour de force in sonic aggression and feminist fury, ready to shred the archaic sexual politics of extreme music.
With its garish cartoon cover art, 'Manslayer' sets the stage for a brutal dissection of misogyny. The evolution of BRAT’s sound is evident as they deliver a relentless assault of deathgrind that pays homage to legends like AUTOPSY and PUNGENT STENCH while cranking the volume on crusty hardcore. This album is a masterclass in brutal innovation, a response to the pedestrian squall of their debut.
The tracks on 'Manslayer' are short, jarring bursts of riff-driven horror, beginning with the throat-slicing opener 'Aileen Wuornos' and culminating in the mutant thrash of 'Media Slop'. Yet, it’s the more muscular and sophisticated moments that truly resonate. 'Trophy Hunting' erupts with a demented vocal from Selfish, encapsulating old-school morbidity, while 'Asking For Hell' delivers hardcore violence interlaced with razor-wire feedback reminiscent of SLAYER. The title track, 'Manslayer (Hell Hath No Fury)', serves as a mini-manifesto, with Selfish declaring, 'The bitch you spurned will make you pay!' as riffs cascade like an avalanche of severed limbs.
'Femicidal Vengeance' delivers a dizzying array of skin-stripping leads and scurrilous tricks, showcasing guitarist Brenner Moate's prowess while ensuring the mosh pit remains a cauldron of chaos. This is a huge leap forward for BRAT, demonstrating not just musical evolution but also a conceptual depth that was previously lacking.
In a scene littered with the corpses of female artists, 'Manslayer' is a bold starting point for BRAT’s campaign to reclaim the narrative in extreme metal. The term 'bimboviolence' hardly does justice to an album that hits like a jaw-juddering, throat-ripping freight train. BRAT is here, and they are taking no prisoners in their quest for justice and domination within the metal realm.