Replicant

**Replicant** is a New Jersey-based death metal band known for their unrelenting, dissonant sound that blends technical precision with raw, chaotic energy. Formed in 2012, the group—featuring members Pete Lloyd (vocals/guitar), James Applegate (guitar), Brandon Wurtz (bass), and Jamie Sharkey (drums)—carves out a niche with their apocalyptic themes and crushing riffs, drawing inspiration from avant-garde and old-school death metal acts like Gorguts and Immolation. Their 2021 album *Malignant Reality* (released via Transcending Obscurity Records) solidified their reputation for crafting nightmarish soundscapes that explore existential dread and societal decay.

Tracks like *Acid Mirror* and *Infinite Mortality* showcase their signature blend of frenzied guitar work, guttural vocals, and rhythm-section brutality, while recent releases such as *Hypochondria of the Machine* and *Pain Enduring* push their dissonant experimentation further. Replicant’s music feels like a sonic descent into madness—unapologetically abrasive yet intricately layered, earning them a cult following among fans of cerebral, boundary-pushing extreme metal.