Rabidfest 2023: “Black Pill Myth” by Johanna Rey (Track Review)

What’s Rabidfest we hear you cry? It’s Oxfords finest Metal Weekender that’s what it is. Two days of wall to wall riffs, percussive battery, bombastic bass lines and guttural screams from twenty bands on the Devolution Magazine sponsored main stage and all for charity too! Held at The Bullingdon over the weekend of the 4th and 5th November 2023, this year will be the fifth anniversary of the event, brought to you by some lovely people. By Metal Heads for Metal Heads as they say. If you missed it, here’s the line up in full…

Bound In Fear
Blaze Bayley
Absolva
Ward XVI
Mortishead
Tribe Of Ghosts
Gutlocker
Imperium
From Her Ashes
Draconian Reign
Monasteries
Reveller
LestWeForget
Johanna Rey
Cage Fight
Stone Soup
Second Hour
Depolarize
Indecorum
Sworn Amongst

““Black Pill Myth” delves into the dangerous themes of Incel culture. Through intense music and lyrics, it confronts the harmful beliefs and ideologies associated with the Incel subculture. The single raises awareness about the psychological struggles and destructive outcomes that can arise from embracing a nihilistic worldview” ~ Johanna Rey

It’s time for the main event, the real reason you’re here, the headline. Chaotic Metallic Hardcore crew Johanna Rey will be making their Rabidfest debut this year and after dropping album “Reality Fallacy” in October 2022 (which includes fans favourite “Trial By Choice“) they’re already back with a new single in “Black Pill Myth“. The question is… is it worth the admission price alone? The answer is a resounding YES! The track is another slab of Hardcore Punk aggression in the same vein as Every Time I Die, wrapped around a heart of lyrical darkness, it is one that will reduce The Bullingdon to rubble in seconds. Keeping the discerning listener on their toes with rapid fire time signature changes, blasting and staccato riff infestations, the band have successfully captured their live energy like lightening in a bottle and committed it to tape… before adding a little Industrial Metal influenced ending to tease us as to what they may have up their sleeves next. How they have managed to shoehorn so much into a single cut remains a mystery, sing and scream along moments feel like they don’t belong given the pacing but work perfectly, short breakdowns and groove riffs all the while flying in every direction. This track should with a public health warning. There will be mosh pit violence. [8.5/10]

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Rabidfest again this year alongside Red Death Media, Moomin Merchandise, Metalplanetmusic, Moshville Times, GraphicsFix, Unearthed Music and main stage sponsor Devolution Magazine. The Festival is all for charity and this year the profits going to the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation!

Rabidfest will take place at The Bullingdon in Oxford over the weekend of the 4th and 5th November 2023:

Get your tickets here -> https://www.rabidfest.co.uk

Get your merch here -> https://shop.rabidfest.co.uk