Review by JD on February 24, 2012.

The Punk vs Metal thing has always been there to some extent since they both were born. I remember listening to both as a young and starving musician. I was trapped between, my metal buddies thought I was a little too punk, and my punker buds thought I was too ‘Banger’. A fact that still makes me proud. I am a metalhead through and through, but I always have the punker inside of me also. It makes me who I am.

Swedish band Iron Lamb is a straight ahead Punk‘n’Roll band made up of extreme metallers like Johan Wallin (General Surgery, Repugnant) and Thomas Daun (Dismember, Incision) out to make some different yet shockingly raw music. It is crass, straight to the point and in your face Hardcore Punk at its finest in the same vein of the likes of GBH, Dead Kennedys and even Canada’s DOA as well. Music that has a bit of flavouring of Metal mixed in to its slam dancing excitement, and brings the connection to metal full circle in the band.

Self-written Punk anthems like 'The Original Sin' and 'I Don’t Like You' go right along side of their punk interpretation of the Motorhead classic 'Poison', and brings the whole album together. Iron Lamb make some great punk songs, and is such a way that most metal people could actually get into. It is not crossover kind of thing, but in a way its better in many ways that will make most punks and bangers take real notice.

Some headbangers will disagree with me and ignore this album because of the Punk thing, but I just tell those people to just take a listen and shut up. It clearly just shows the basic fact that even punk has influenced what metal has become and will always play a part of what metal has come to define no matter what genre it is. Iron Lamb is a band that sums that up rather nicely, and they are from the extreme ends of metal itself.

I am still a true diehard headbanger and that will never change until the day the bury my sorry ass in the dirt, yet I gotta let the punk out of the dungeon sometimes to wreak havoc the odd time. He is a mean and rather spiteful little tattooed fucker, but he still is a part of me. Enough said?

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Alex on June 3, 2020.

Painting the skies with a smoky haze and scarring the ground with an explosive assault of miserable black/death metal tones, the q-(u)war-tet behind the artillery are called to duty once again, this time with an ep titled Antichrist Militia. Look at that cover artwork, a fucking tank, skulls and goat-men wielding heavy machinery, surely you don't expect to hear love songs, only a barrage of obnoxious riffing, vocals and drums. Roughneck ravishing hymns of hate and blood-fueled anger, an over-spill of contempt and weaponized devastation; lace up your combat-boots or run and hide like a bitch. Either way, there's no safe-space available and if there were, Antichrist Militia promises with oath-like commitment that you'd be flushed out like rodents from them.

War and metal, they bond like radiation and nuclear strikes, can't have one without the other; 'Doom Cult Legion' makes it no secret what awaits just past it's bullet-riddled declaration. Heed the warning or not, you won't survive the decimation at hand as 'Antichrist Militia' emerges with a charging fury of relentless riffs, brawling vocals, demolishing drums and cyborg growls inaugurating the commencement. Risen from slumber to arrive at it's coronation of destruction, the panic is ensued with glorification of the traditional war metal blast beat, steered by sirening and chainsaw-esque guitar tones. A Tiger tank of grinding violence wave after wave.

Pouring salt on the wounds of decimated enemies, 'Venom Salt' is tossed like seasoning to raw meat, this time taking the pace down to marinate the effect, nevertheless maintaining the intensity as you're smeared across the battlefield only to be washed-down and mopped-up slowly with the groove driven 'Mouths of War'. No Front vocals here, no need for them anyway, instead the excerpts of notorious dialogue, chants and cheers are provided to feed the track title. And in its final act of desecration, 'Machinegun Blasphemy' lands the deathblow with dead-eye precision as the final bullets strike the commander of the enemy faction in the face. If you like Anesthetic Vapor, Flesh Consumed in Battle or even Panzer Division Marduk, chances are you more than like Antichrist Militia. Get ready or get raped!

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Review by JD on February 24, 2012.

The Punk vs Metal thing has always been there to some extent since they both were born. I remember listening to both as a young and starving musician. I was trapped between, my metal buddies thought I was a little too punk, and my punker buds thought I was too ‘Banger’. A fact that still makes me proud. I am a metalhead through and through, but I always have the punker inside of me also. It makes me who I am.

Swedish band Iron Lamb is a straight ahead Punk‘n’Roll band made up of extreme metallers like Johan Wallin (General Surgery, Repugnant) and Thomas Daun (Dismember, Incision) out to make some different yet shockingly raw music. It is crass, straight to the point and in your face Hardcore Punk at its finest in the same vein of the likes of GBH, Dead Kennedys and even Canada’s DOA as well. Music that has a bit of flavouring of Metal mixed in to its slam dancing excitement, and brings the connection to metal full circle in the band.

Self-written Punk anthems like 'The Original Sin' and 'I Don’t Like You' go right along side of their punk interpretation of the Motorhead classic 'Poison', and brings the whole album together. Iron Lamb make some great punk songs, and is such a way that most metal people could actually get into. It is not crossover kind of thing, but in a way its better in many ways that will make most punks and bangers take real notice.

Some headbangers will disagree with me and ignore this album because of the Punk thing, but I just tell those people to just take a listen and shut up. It clearly just shows the basic fact that even punk has influenced what metal has become and will always play a part of what metal has come to define no matter what genre it is. Iron Lamb is a band that sums that up rather nicely, and they are from the extreme ends of metal itself.

I am still a true diehard headbanger and that will never change until the day the bury my sorry ass in the dirt, yet I gotta let the punk out of the dungeon sometimes to wreak havoc the odd time. He is a mean and rather spiteful little tattooed fucker, but he still is a part of me. Enough said?

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Alex on May 28, 2020.

Continuing to strengthen the war metal diaphragm, Revenge not only return to do just that but also to add insult to injury given the current state of world affairs. Stamped-out and spat-on, the human race is left to endure a sonic laceration unlike anything ever felt. Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is yet another devastating addition of war metal artillery developed by none other than J. Read and fellow commando, Vermin. Through this unity, the long-standing torch of inhuman aggression remains lit with burning pride as the notorious name of Revenge continues to dismantle and disrupt with genocidal frequencies and tones.

From the mouth of the cannon, 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)' asserts itself in commencement with a torrential downpour of fire upon the sub-human flock fit for slaughter through their blind conformity to self-degrading and subservient behavior. Like the blinding flash of light before the explosion of a nuclear weapon, 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)' invokes immediate fear and panic as the foundation and chemical properties of a Revenge assault are executed with surgical precision through the recognizable J. Read drum pattern and commanding vocal declaration. The neutralizing pulse of bass, bizarre gargoyle-esque effects and blizzard-like riffs of Vermin also make their dreaded appearances on 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)', thus the show of utilitarian habits manufacture and maneuver with a distilled hatred.

With a spear driven deep into the very essence of sheep and shepherd, all hope is sacrificed in barbaric display as 'Reign Power (Above All Born)' makes an entry unto the battlefield. Putting to rest with a lethal injection of blast beats, shrieking guitars and a murderous array of vocals, 'Reign Power (Above All Born)' condemns violently and conquers mercilessly in defiance of the sheep-sheltering system. To follow the path of glorified evisceration, 'Reign Power (Above All Born)', 'Oath Violator', 'Salvation Smothered (Genocide of Flock)', 'Human Animal' and 'Self Segregation (System Torched)' arrive with in-humanitarian advances as J.Read and Vermin would deliver a callous scourging, a sonic nuisance reminiscent of early material.

Hence, it must be said that Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is (for me) Revenge's best offering put forth since Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist. By no means is this a statement to discredit albums such as Infiltration.Downfall.Death or Behold.Total.Rejection., rather I say this due to how fitting for a Conqueror record some songs on Strike.Smother.Dehumanize are. Conqueror is the pinnacle of J. Read's efforts (how I perceive it) and to have 'Reign Power (Above All Born)', 'Lightning Mythos' and 'Self Segregation (System Torched)' compete with material on War.Cult.Supremacy, speaks highly with regards to the state of Revenge.

The material on Strike.Smother.Dehumanize has a very fluent movement occurring among groove, technicality and aggression, thus positively affecting the album as a whole, hence the songs appear to have a watchful dispersal of mentioned attributes instead of appearing unbalanced and bloated. J. Read's vocals are still creature-esque and outstanding, while his drumming and overall songwriting aided by Vermin's bass, riffraff and effects remain as exceptional and exemplary contributions to war metal.

Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is Revenge's best in a long time, it hearkens back to the days of Conqueror and topples early Revenge entries. An unprecedented yet glorious happening for a band this decorated and ancient.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Alex on May 28, 2020.

Continuing to strengthen the war metal diaphragm, Revenge not only return to do just that but also to add insult to injury given the current state of world affairs. Stamped-out and spat-on, the human race is left to endure a sonic laceration unlike anything ever felt. Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is yet another devastating addition of war metal artillery developed by none other than J. Read and fellow commando, Vermin. Through this unity, the long-standing torch of inhuman aggression remains lit with burning pride as the notorious name of Revenge continues to dismantle and disrupt with genocidal frequencies and tones.

From the mouth of the cannon, 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)' asserts itself in commencement with a torrential downpour of fire upon the sub-human flock fit for slaughter through their blind conformity to self-degrading and subservient behavior. Like the blinding flash of light before the explosion of a nuclear weapon, 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)' invokes immediate fear and panic as the foundation and chemical properties of a Revenge assault are executed with surgical precision through the recognizable J. Read drum pattern and commanding vocal declaration. The neutralizing pulse of bass, bizarre gargoyle-esque effects and blizzard-like riffs of Vermin also make their dreaded appearances on 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)', thus the show of utilitarian habits manufacture and maneuver with a distilled hatred.

With a spear driven deep into the very essence of sheep and shepherd, all hope is sacrificed in barbaric display as 'Reign Power (Above All Born)' makes an entry unto the battlefield. Putting to rest with a lethal injection of blast beats, shrieking guitars and a murderous array of vocals, 'Reign Power (Above All Born)' condemns violently and conquers mercilessly in defiance of the sheep-sheltering system. To follow the path of glorified evisceration, 'Reign Power (Above All Born)', 'Oath Violator', 'Salvation Smothered (Genocide of Flock)', 'Human Animal' and 'Self Segregation (System Torched)' arrive with in-humanitarian advances as J.Read and Vermin would deliver a callous scourging, a sonic nuisance reminiscent of early material.

Hence, it must be said that Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is (for me) Revenge's best offering put forth since Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist. By no means is this a statement to discredit albums such as Infiltration.Downfall.Death or Behold.Total.Rejection., rather I say this due to how fitting for a Conqueror record some songs on Strike.Smother.Dehumanize are. Conqueror is the pinnacle of J. Read's efforts (how I perceive it) and to have 'Reign Power (Above All Born)', 'Lightning Mythos' and 'Self Segregation (System Torched)' compete with material on War.Cult.Supremacy, speaks highly with regards to the state of Revenge.

The material on Strike.Smother.Dehumanize has a very fluent movement occurring among groove, technicality and aggression, thus positively affecting the album as a whole, hence the songs appear to have a watchful dispersal of mentioned attributes instead of appearing unbalanced and bloated. J. Read's vocals are still creature-esque and outstanding, while his drumming and overall songwriting aided by Vermin's bass, riffraff and effects remain as exceptional and exemplary contributions to war metal.

Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is Revenge's best in a long time, it hearkens back to the days of Conqueror and topples early Revenge entries. An unprecedented yet glorious happening for a band this decorated and ancient.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Alex on May 28, 2020.

Continuing to strengthen the war metal diaphragm, Revenge not only return to do just that but also to add insult to injury given the current state of world affairs. Stamped-out and spat-on, the human race is left to endure a sonic laceration unlike anything ever felt. Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is yet another devastating addition of war metal artillery developed by none other than J. Read and fellow commando, Vermin. Through this unity, the long-standing torch of inhuman aggression remains lit with burning pride as the notorious name of Revenge continues to dismantle and disrupt with genocidal frequencies and tones.

From the mouth of the cannon, 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)' asserts itself in commencement with a torrential downpour of fire upon the sub-human flock fit for slaughter through their blind conformity to self-degrading and subservient behavior. Like the blinding flash of light before the explosion of a nuclear weapon, 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)' invokes immediate fear and panic as the foundation and chemical properties of a Revenge assault are executed with surgical precision through the recognizable J. Read drum pattern and commanding vocal declaration. The neutralizing pulse of bass, bizarre gargoyle-esque effects and blizzard-like riffs of Vermin also make their dreaded appearances on 'Reaper Abyss (Real Rain)', thus the show of utilitarian habits manufacture and maneuver with a distilled hatred.

With a spear driven deep into the very essence of sheep and shepherd, all hope is sacrificed in barbaric display as 'Reign Power (Above All Born)' makes an entry unto the battlefield. Putting to rest with a lethal injection of blast beats, shrieking guitars and a murderous array of vocals, 'Reign Power (Above All Born)' condemns violently and conquers mercilessly in defiance of the sheep-sheltering system. To follow the path of glorified evisceration, 'Reign Power (Above All Born)', 'Oath Violator', 'Salvation Smothered (Genocide of Flock)', 'Human Animal' and 'Self Segregation (System Torched)' arrive with in-humanitarian advances as J.Read and Vermin would deliver a callous scourging, a sonic nuisance reminiscent of early material.

Hence, it must be said that Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is (for me) Revenge's best offering put forth since Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist. By no means is this a statement to discredit albums such as Infiltration.Downfall.Death or Behold.Total.Rejection., rather I say this due to how fitting for a Conqueror record some songs on Strike.Smother.Dehumanize are. Conqueror is the pinnacle of J. Read's efforts (how I perceive it) and to have 'Reign Power (Above All Born)', 'Lightning Mythos' and 'Self Segregation (System Torched)' compete with material on War.Cult.Supremacy, speaks highly with regards to the state of Revenge.

The material on Strike.Smother.Dehumanize has a very fluent movement occurring among groove, technicality and aggression, thus positively affecting the album as a whole, hence the songs appear to have a watchful dispersal of mentioned attributes instead of appearing unbalanced and bloated. J. Read's vocals are still creature-esque and outstanding, while his drumming and overall songwriting aided by Vermin's bass, riffraff and effects remain as exceptional and exemplary contributions to war metal.

Strike.Smother.Dehumanize is Revenge's best in a long time, it hearkens back to the days of Conqueror and topples early Revenge entries. An unprecedented yet glorious happening for a band this decorated and ancient.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10