As a musician, you gotta love an unintended compliment. After the release of Replicant’s 2021 effort Malignant Reality, an internet commenter dismissed the NJ outfit as “Gorguts for morons” – as neat a summation for their sound as you’ll find, and now their unofficial tagline. Replicant’s willingness to lean gleefully into this diss reflects their musical attitude, which involves a lot more overt fun than the dour, unapproachable vibe projected by most dissonant death metal. Rather than the niche’s bog-standard rhythmic convulsions, a bouncy and belligerent sense of groove powers Replicant’s attack. It’s an expression of their Garden State heritage; the influence of gym-rat metal/hardcore syncretists like Burnt By The Sun and Dim Mak looms large. This approach provides optionality to the listener: you can pore over the band’s tricky chord voicings and pedal noise washes, OR you can feel the lizard-brain backbeat and just start smashing shit. Replicant is currently in the studio recording their third LP, which should drop near the end of 2023 via Transcending Obscurity Records. Respect New Jersey or prepare for combat!
Doug Moore (of Scarcity, Pyrrhon, Glorious Depravity, and other bands) wrote the above last year for our Metal Bands to Watch in 2023 feature about Replicant as they were gearing up for the release of their new album. 2023 came and went, but now the album–titled Infinite Mortality–is officially set to arrive on April 4 via Transcending Obscurity (pre-order). Two songs are out now, “Acid Mirror” and “Pain Enduring,” and they both make good on the promise of Doug’s description. Check them out below.
Tracklist
1. Acid Mirror
2. Shrine to the Incomprehensible
3. Orgasm of Bereavement
4. Reciprocal Abandonment
5. SCN9A
6. Pain Enduring
7. Nekrotunnel
8. Dwelling on the Threshold
9. Planet of Skin