Metalcatto
I felt like bullying someone today, so I picked Bragging Rights – A Comedy Divine because I know he can take it. This is how I justify abuse, of course. At MER, we’re very familiar with the almost obsessive way this project churns out records. I do wonder if the title is ripping off Dante, but I’ll give it a pass for once. We have to check out those cymbals anyway.
Well, there are some sound improvements here, but forget about those cymbals—at this point they’re a style decision, like Gaerea insisting on DR5 for every release. Having said that, this is more of the Gojira worship we’re used to from Bragging Rights. If anything, I’m starting to wonder how many times per day this man listens to The Way of All Flesh, because the melodic lines and vocals are a total homage to it. At least the “fan” effect is gone now, replaced by something approaching genuine influence absorption. Whether that’s an improvement depends on your tolerance for French rhythmic obsession.
The album is defined by tapping guitar lines unlike almost anything I’ve heard before in this specific context. Those are probably the strongest moments here, where the guitar work reaches melancholic levels that are genuinely novel for a project with this sound. It’s almost as if Bragging Rights uses mass-producing albums as some form of therapy replacement (you know, to deal with the horrors the British working class faces daily). Needless to say, you still need to see a doctor, kids. Unless you want to keep making good music, in which case please stay broken for us. Your suffering is our entertainment.
I’m not going to repeat myself regarding production. If anything, A Comedy Divine is an improvement over previous releases that were, frankly, perfect tvre kvlt material in their own way. However, we can say for sure that Bragging Rights is consistent to a degree that would give Immolation or Cannibal Corpse a run for their money. This stuff sticks to an idea with more loyalty than an Akita, which makes for heartwarming dog stories but not necessarily for wild, unpredictable extreme Metal. You know exactly what you’re getting by track three.
Anyway, if you’re expecting more of the same, then you’re golden here. The songwriting has improved overall, and I had fun. Even if this devotion to Gojira borders on treason for a British man, I’ll honor my culture and remain idiotically neutral about that particular aspect. If you want hypnotic tapping with an unpolished attitude, look no further. Here’s your answer. Just don’t expect any surprises—the only divine comedy here is how comforting loyalty can be.
Label: Independent
Release date: 20 Mach, 2026
Website: https://braggingrights2022.bandcamp.com/
Country: UK (Wales)
Score: like 50 flying whales!
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