M'Lou Elkins
In the heart of Milwaukee Metal Fest 2025, Music Fiends’ Michael Mullenix chatted with BRAT, New Orleans’ rising agents of sonic destruction, for an on-camera interview. With riffs sharper than a stiletto heel and lyrics laced with venom, BRAT aren’t just challenging the metal status quo, they’re ripping it limb from limb and spray-painting it pink.
Emerging from the sweltering depths of New Orleans, BRAT is a ferocious force in the extreme metal scene, blending death metal, grindcore, and hardcore into a volatile concoction they proudly dub “barbiegrind” and “bimboviolence”. Formed in 2021, this quartet, comprising vocalist Liz Selfish, guitarist Brenner Moate, bassist Ian Hennessey, and drummer Dustin Eagan, defies conventions with their audacious fusion of brutal soundscapes and a flamboyant, Y2K-inspired aesthetic.
Their debut album, Social Grace, released in March 2024 via Prosthetic Records, is a relentless 20-minute onslaught that melds swampy death metal riffs, thrash intensity, and powerviolence aggression. Tracks like “Ego Death” and “Hesitation Wound” showcase their capacity to deliver blistering tempos and monstrous grooves, while the title track offers a scathing critique of aristocracy and environmental degradation.
BRAT’s live performances are as unyielding as their music, having shared stages with heavyweights like Eyehategod, Cro-Mags, and No/Más. With their unapologetic approach and genre-defying style, BRAT is carving a distinct path in the metal world, challenging norms and inviting all to join their audacious crusade.
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