FANTAZMAZ call themselves ‘a street-ghetto punk band that blends genres and backgrounds into a sound that’s raw and electrifying’. They’re not wrong. If anything, that’s a considerable understatement if this album of flamethrower bursts of urgent, highly-charged punk rock is anything to go by. It’s a sonic assault in brutal slices that delivers urgent punk that, at times, is unsettlingly melodic. For the most part, it’s fiery and politically charged – a kind of visceral Pizzatramp meets Svetlanas mashup that batters you relentlessly into joyful submission.

FANTAZMAZ are hardcore without question, but not one note as the unsettling ‘Just Before Hell Comes Around’ demonstrates, with its weirdly hypnotic coiling bassline underpinning a powerful dual vocal dancing around an unusual time signature. It’s a departure from most of the rest of the album which is polished and grinding, showcasing the furious vocals. And then there is the odd opener ‘Are You Enjoying The Peaceful Skies?’, a dreamy acoustic bossa nova invoking lapping waves and cocktails on a palm-fringed beach. Don’t be fooled. What follows is furious – and sometimes comfortingly old school – hardcore that will leave your fillings rattling in your head.

Formed in 2020, FANTAZMAZ is Thami on vocals, Raf Oliver on guitar, Chokito on bass, and former UK Sub Jamie Oliver on drums. Recorded in two days at Monolith Studio, the album captures a living snapshot of the band’s bleak outlook for humanity and injects it with a frustrated power and energy. Don’t be fooled by the negative outlook, FANTAZMAZ offer a harsh mirror to a society about which they despair. But as we know too well, anger is an energy and this supernova of incandescent Anglo-Brazilian fury sounds intriguing, give this a spin. It won’t take long; with most tracks clocking in at under two minutes, you can reenergise your day in about half an hour. Brilliant, furious, raw, honest – all good reasons to get aboard the FANTAZMAZ train.

Rebellion Festival goers, you can get a fiery shot of this on the Introducing Stage on Saturday. Then go for a nice sit down. FANTAZMAZ by FANTAZMAZ is available on CD and vinyl here and through streaming platforms.

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