Review: “Arbitrary Punishment” by Revenge Ritual

Formed in 2023, New Jersey based Revenge Ritual have made a name for themselves by fusing together Sludge Metal, Hardcore and Black Metal for conversations about occultism, desolation, depression, misanthropy and murder. Their self titled EP landed in the August of that year with then vocalist Mordecai Wolfenstein exiting stage left a year later; that hasn’t stopped perpetual forward motion however as the band found a suitable replacement of vast experience in Brendan Cormack (Hosticide, Scasm, Technologia, Cold-Blooded Capitol). He’s surrounded by the original trio of bassist Jeremy Kafer (Cranial Damage), drummer James Muenchen and guitarist Douglas Maxwell (Morality, On Sight) for the bands debut album “Arbitrary Punishment“.

A box full of sharp objects, the album begins with “Centuries of Pain” which has eerie distorted voices surrounded in an ocean of feedback to send a chill down the spine before things get rowdy. Beatdown styled riffs and cathartic screams echo around sung vocal lines as Cormack makes his presence felt, the track coming off like a menacing warning shot before the pick slide into “Killing Fields“. The pair of tunes are stylistically conjoined twins never to be separated, the Nu-Metal inspired clean vocal moments pushed to the back in favour of the harsh ones as the band pummel the discerning listener to death with pulsating rhythmic battery and seismic grooves. The war drums pound as “Razorwire” takes shape, the third cut having increased intensity and staccato riff breaks, the “biegh!” moment perfectly executed as the band deliver a warning of dissociative proportions. One of the longer cuts at just shy of four minutes is “Liars Guilt“, which has some almost feral vocal parts from Cormack as he delivers a lyrical narrative about dying from a ruptured heart. It’s one of those which has an ominous atmospheric and would work well as the soundscape to a scene in a movie in which the lead character strangles his lover after he found out about her lies.

Despite the blast beats there is something about “A Passion for Murder” that is reminiscent of “Sever The Chord” era Extortionist in this one, the band bringing the Sludge Metal grooves and an blistering solo to the King’s table as they incite mosh pit violence. The riff is undeniably catchy, an ear worm that won’t let you go, largely because it has an air of familiarity about it from the 2000’s scene while doing its own thing. “Admonishment” is then vocally reminiscent of “The Darkest Red” era The Agony Scene, the shriller screams from Cormack giving it something more vicious to augment the thunderous percussion and rumbling bass. The riffs feel like they’ve been sharpened for surgery on this one too, the solo a tasteful moment in amongst the cathartic screams. Twisting and contorting “Throes” offers a melancholic whistle over mournful acoustic guitars as a shoe gazing moment that has been cut from the start of title track “Arbitrary Punishment” for all the right reasons. A palate cleansing moment of clarity it sets the tone but rather than going straight for the jugular, this one is a slow burn as infinite pain is released like a blood letting. It’s not until the mid section that the band step up the energy, delivering a savage verse accompanied by abrasive riffs that will make you feel like you’ve been washing with wire wool instead of soap. A final statement piece of immense power bolstered by feedback and screams, this one is one you’re not going to want to sleep on [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Centuries of Pain
2. Killing Fields
3. Razorwire
4. Liars Guilt
5. A Passion for Murder
6. Admonishment
7. Throes
8. Arbitrary Punishment

“Arbitrary Punishment” by Revenge Ritual is out 15th May 2026 via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions and is available over at bandcamp