Aside from describing my very existence, the new RVKKVS album, Antithesis Of Prosperity (Grindhead Records) is also a damn good collection of brash, devastating, grinding noise. 

At times, the songs go right for the jugular in less than a minute (“Pathological Altruism”) while at other times, they leave space for engaging rhythms that materialize even after seering shouts and full-bodied might that begs you to assume otherwise.

There are also a few appropriate – and sinister – vocal lines that cut right to the chase, and do so in attention-grabbing fashion.

“Doomed. To. Fail. / Doom. To. Fail” is laboriously proclaimed on “Recidivist Reprobate,” and is reinforced with demonic gutturals that simply burst out with no hope of stopping them.

“Forever” encapsulates the constant struggle of the 24/7 news cycle and how counterproductive and detrimental it is to try and be literally connected to everything that is happening at all times. And for good measure, the line “drive you insane” drones on and repeats as the song closes, further increasing its impact.

With that, though, RVKKVS don’t shy away from including technical soloing over recorded lines (“Glass Face”) which adds vibrancy and character, though it’s not something that is lacking on any of the other eight tracks.

Antithesis Of Prosperity at first glance comes off like an angry, fed-up diatribe against both the broken system and the corrupt individuals who are continuing to perpetuate it for their own gain at the expense of the less fortunate.

And in doing so, this record is in-your-face and brutal in the way that living in 21st-century [insert country here] is if you’re not rich and privileged.

Buy the album here:
https://grindheadrecords.bandcamp.com/album/antithesis-of-prosperity

8 / 10
MATT COOK