REVIEW: Bruxist - Bruxist

The self-titled debut album from Bruxist hits you in the face the way punk rock was always meant to. A crust punk assault infused with death metal brutality, the Aussie boys have kicked, stomped, and declared war with this explosive first release. If you like 90’s crust punk with aggressive anthems, heavy guitars and fast tempo bands such as Driller Killer, or if you like the heavy aspect of Swedish death metal, the soul stirring screams and heavy guitars scales of bands such as Escarnium, or maybe you’re just looking for a good head-banging album to add to your playlist, then this album is for you to try. 

With over three decades of combined experience in the underground scene, you can hear a rich mix of influences - each track stitched together with raw intensity and purpose. The album opens with 'Inversion', immediately setting the tone. Drummer Dan Nahum drives the tempo like a war march, while the distorted vocals pair perfectly with the savage guitar riffs from Dav Byrne and Terry Vainoras. It's a headlong charge into battle - your head bangs, your teeth clench. The name of the band suddenly makes perfect sense.

Most tracks clock in at under three minutes, but they don’t need any longer to make an impact. They’re rapid, feral, aggressive - and most importantly, raw. 'Six Feet Headfirst' shows how seamlessly the band can shift tempo without losing momentum. One moment you're in the throes of a pit-worthy riff, the next you're in a slow, almost ritualistic rally cry, only to be thrown back into the chaos seconds later.

Tracks like 'Black Sheep Discipline' and 'Wide Awake' showcase a bold genre-blending approach. One moment it’s blistering hardcore punk, the next it flirts with doom or straight-up rock ‘n’ roll. On paper, it just shouldn’t be this tight, this seamless - but somehow, it is.

'Divide and Conquer' and 'Piss and Vinegar' are arguably the heaviest cuts on the album. They’ve got everything a death metal fan could want - blast beats, guttural growls, crushing riffs, with a defiant dose of classic rockin' swagger thrown in for good measure. The album closes with 'Hydra', a chaotic yet fitting end to this sonic blitz. It’s not just noise - it’s controlled demolition. 

Overall, this debut is a high-speed, high-energy explosion of everything metal. Whether you're blasting it through your headphones or shaking the walls with your speakers, one thing’s for certain: it’s loud, it’s powerful, and it’s one hell of a first album.

Score: 7/10

Bruxist was released on July 19th 2025.

Words: David Waites

Photos: Bruxist