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DEATH RITES band: Los Angeles' Most Savage Hardcore Resurgence

DEATH RITES band: Phoenix Rising from the Ashes of Pandemic Silence

When the DEATH RITES band crawled out of LA's underground in 2022, they weren't just another hardcore outfit - they were a goddamn declaration of war. Born from the rotting carcass of lockdown isolation, this five-piece crust/metal punk demolition crew came back from near-death with a vengeance that'll make your teeth rattle.

Guitarist Johnny and drummer Marvin first conjured these demons during COVID's darkest days, crafting five tracks of pure metallic fury. But like all great punk stories, the road wasn't straight - members scattered, the project went cold for a year, and their original name 'Deathless' became tragically ironic. That is, until Marvin rediscovered those forgotten riffs mid-flight, sparking a resurrection more brutal than a zombie outbreak.

From Demo to Destroyer: The Rebirth of Death Rites

The reformed lineup - now featuring Branden's cavernous vocals and Alex's earth-shaking bass - emerged leaner, meaner, and hungry for blood. Their 2024 three-song demo wasn't just music; it was a Molotov cocktail thrown at LA's complacent hardcore scene. When they hit the stage with Poison Ruin, the message was clear: Death Rites doesn't play - they obliterate.

Four days in Paradise Recording Studio (ironic name for such hellish sounds) with Andrew Oswald yielded 11 tracks of crusty metallic punk that'll peel the skin off posers. This self-released LP, distributed by Going Underground Records, is the sound of a band with nothing to lose and everything to destroy.

Sound Like a Knife Fight in a Steel Cage

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Death Rites' sonic assault merges D-beat ferocity with thrash metal's razor-sharp precision. Imagine Discharge and Napalm Death in a back alley brawl with early Metallica - that's the unholy racket these maniacs conjure. Thunderous drums collide with buzzsaw guitars while Branden's vocals sound like he's gargling broken glass.

Their West Coast tour in May 2025 isn't just a series of shows - it's an extermination campaign. Every stage they touch becomes ground zero for audio violence, leaving audiences shell-shocked and begging for mercy.

Why Death Rites Matters Now More Than Ever

In an era where hardcore's gone soft and metal's lost its teeth, Death Rites is the enema the scene desperately needs. They embody punk's DIY spirit while delivering metal's technical punishment - no gimmicks, no compromises, just raw fucking energy.

The DEATH RITES band isn't here to follow trends - they're here to set the underground ablaze. With new material already in the works and endless road carnage planned, these LA maniacs are writing hardcore's next chapter in blood. Bow down or get trampled - there's no middle ground.


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