Album Review: Insult – Reside Infernus (Self Released)

Coming at you from Bristol, England, Insult were originally formed in the mid-1980s. Comprising of from revered thrash metal band, Onslaught, Insult were initially put together by drummer, Steve Grice, who ed up with former Onslaught bassist, Jase Stallard, and Onslaught roadie, Jase Howell, who takes care of vocals. The three piece then added talented guitarists Robbie Harris and Jonny Fifield, to finalise their imposing line-up.

Over the past few years, Insult have been composing their debut album, ‘Reside Infernus’, and this record will finally see the light of day on May 23rd, 2025.

There’s nothing complex here, nothing liable to change the face of metal, yet what it lacks in innovation, it makes up for in sheer riff-driven head banging power. Insult have condensed the best of their metal ways into eight solid slabs of heavy freaking metal.

Beginning in high powered fashion, the title track is an ode to wickedness, old-school wickedness focusing on sensational riffing and diabolical vocals. It’s a detailed start, nearing the seven-minute mark as far as length goes, but it (happily) doesn’t feel that long. It’s a strong start, and immediately, the head will be banging hard. Although that is to be expected, and the neck muscles continue to be worked hard with the sharpened strength of Bloodthirsty and the unfiltered old-school heaviness of 0-60 (Death or Glory). Insult delivering a cacophony of likable thrash-infused metal.

There’s a ton of talent here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will gel together. Happily, that is exactly what we get here, a group of talented musicians working really well together, playing off each other, and enhancing what is on offer. This unified approach to memorable metal is why we get bangers like Holy War (Sea of Tears), where the methodical tempo slays. Bangers like This Life We Despise, with its punk-infused speeding intensity, and bangers like Berserker, with its rampaging guitar work. There’s no denying the lure of each.

Keeping things tight, the album wraps up in succinct fashion, Insult bringing forth even more mighty moments with Broken Mind and Power from Hell. The sound of authentic heavy metal that satisfies fully. Not everything can be (or will be) game changing, sometimes it’s perfectly fine to just nail a sound or style, and that is exactly what Insult does with this album. Your neck muscles will ache afterwards.

Insult – Reside Infernus Track Listing:

1. Reside Infernus
2. Bloodthirsty
3. 0-60 (Death or Glory)
4. Holy War (Sea of Tears)
5. This Life We Despise
6. Berserker
7. Broken Mind
8. Power From Hell

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