THE RECREANT - The Code is V... Outlive the Code (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

I strongly suspect that every single reader of this review will agree that The Recreant is a remarkably easy sell. Alicia Cordisco and Ruby Rockatansky, neither of whom need introduction 'round these parts, join forces to deliver a crusty grindy crossover thrash Transgressive sister/spin-off project. The Recreant promises stripped-down spite, and  features an overt Napalm Death reference right there in the album title.  I mean...'nuff said, right? I invite anyone to take a deep dive into the bottomless maw of the Sleeping Village's promo pit; you'll be hard-pressed to find a more invigorating elevator pitch. 

And yeah. Holy shit. The Recreant, I am pleased to say, more than delivers on its implicit promise. Upon first exposure to the gloriously incendiary advance singles, I commented "oh, this goes capital-letter HARD hard." After many, many listens, I can't agree more with this initial assessment. The Code is V... Outlive the Code exudes hardness with a stomping gravitas and a sense of authenticity that simply can't be manufactured. It is sneering and tough in a fashion that feels tangible and profoundly badass. It thrums and erupts with pugilistic physicality. It is the pinnacle of rage, a snapshot of the precise moment that fury transcends. It is outspoken and honest and assertive. It is raw and exposed. It is a throat-rending battle cry, and it goes hard.

​I cannot (re)iterate this enough. It. goes. so. fucking. hard.

---

Let's talk lineup, because of course we must. Alicia is a certified legend across a notable spectrum of metal genres, and, as I've written before, her ability to infuse her songcraft with a crystal-clear love for sick-ass riffage consistently shines through. And while we can (and should, and shall) praise her riffs and songwriting prowess all damn day, I also think an underrated quality is her curation when it comes to collaborators (note: perhaps less underrated in light of her new album, which features quite the roster.) Here, the multitalented Ruby Rockatansky was the perfect choice as the project's literal voice. Ruby also has a notable range when it comes to genre--she's been establishing quite the catalog of epic space prog, and I was a huge fan of her Per Scientiam ad Justitiam EP from last year. This project in particular solidified Ruby as a vocalist with access to an admirable depth of rage and intriguing inflection. Here, said depth of rage has somehow been magnified tenfold. The vocals on The Code is V... Outlive the Code are furious and belligerent and visceral and incendiary. If a voice could be wrapped in barbed wire, this is what it would sound like. There's a singularly sharp and spitting quality to her delivery, and she both commands and demands attention. Lastly, the drum programming and mix/master comes courtesy of Brett Windangle, who has also secured quite the reputation for making cool shit. I'm a big fan of Brett's production here--this is a punchy project, but it sacrifices no grit.
​

​This album is highly listenable. Infectious, even. It is by far one of my most listened of the year. But that's not to say that The Recreant makes its unpalatable topics palatable for sake of listenability. Indeed, The Code is V... Outlive the Code provides a level of unsubtle scathing commentary sorely lacking from most thrash and thrash-adjacent music in the modern era. It is simply not possible to engage with this album while ignoring the context of its creation, nor the pain and fury that informs it. This is a overt exposure of the oppression, hatred, and abuse experienced by trans women in particular, covering topics ranging from medical genocide, to sexual assault, to the horrors of the prison system, to the violence implicit in the status quo. The messaging is extremely clear, and, if you're still having trouble after glancing over the track titles, many of the lines on this album practically stand out as thesis statements. Take for example "V Coded," which states that "Here in America/Our prisons are for torture," before calling for the abolishment of the police, the prisons, the v code, the fascist incubator. Be it a fresh batch of anti-trans legislation or another liberal attempt to maintain comfort while turning a blind eye to their own complicity, every day represents a fresh new horror, both personal and institutional. Notably, ​however, The Code is V... Outlive the Code is far from defeatist--opening track "Voices of Dissent" specifically argues that we're stronger together, and calls for an unbreakable alliance. This sense of power, particularly via communal strength, permeates the project as a whole. There is a strong throughline of collectivism, of strength-in-numbers, of calling-to-arms. The rawness of hurt is exceedingly apparent, but at no point does despondency creep in.

To bring it back to listenability, this album demonstrates that one can simultaneously enjoy an absolute banger whilst also wanting nothing more than to inflict righteous violence. The Recreant captures that duality so acutely. It is impossible to listen without feeling vicariously tapped into the endless rage that fueled its creation. This album legitimately leaves me pissed off and steaming, fired up and red-hot. But! It is also impossible to listen without headbanging and reveling in the absolute joy of being caught in a kickass metal song's  inescapable current.

Speaking of kickass metal songs, this is certifiably one of those rare no-skip albums. If you're hitting play on the aforementioned (and arrestingly catchy) "Voices of Dissent," you best be letting it run all the way through to the closing track, an (excellent!) cover of Fourth Dominion's "Burn The Prisons!" The baseline for quality is set extremely high, and yet many individual moments erupt into the stratosphere. For example, when that churning guitar opens "Hard Drive" and Ruby's vocals follow in equally blistering measure, it is abundantly clear we're in for an absolute barnburner. And that's before the galloping take-it-up-another-notch thrash riff hits. Alicia seemingly always has another harder faster riff in the bag--she's got hell-fuckin-yeah riffs for days. As always, it's a genuine joy to witness her ability to absolutely rip it up. The riffage on this album is frequently blistering and vitriolic, and delivers crusty bite with a tangible pent-up aggression. 

The punches keep coming on "If I'm the Problem...," which features an extremely cool and improbably lengthy "ooooooooh yeeaaah" alongside a forthright vocal cadence that plays nicely with and against the track's momentum. Follow-up "Not Your Doll," which seems to have emerged as a fan favorite among the reactions I've seen, drops an absolutely massive chorus. Ruby roars with a spite and sneer that feels thoroughly unreplicable. On my personal favorite track--the mighty "Late to the Party"--we are witness to a vicious lambasting of liberal comfort/apathy in a fashion I haven't since...well, since Transgressive's "Bury Me In Rainbow Flags." I really enjoy the initial slower approach of this track; it grounds the following bombardment extremely effectively. This track also features another incredible chorus. It's a hooky tirade, and Ruby's pointed inflection sets the barbs oh-so deep in my brain. And, ignoring all of that, it is an irrefutable fact that any song featuring a Fuck! You! chant is gonna do big numbers here at ye olde Sleeping Village. After the aforementioned "V Coded," "My First Captor" feels like a masterclass in the art of the slow build, juxtaposing its lyrical weight with a sharp vitriol that roars from the foundation established by the intro. And, late in the tracklist, "G.I.R.L." cranks the punky vibes to a new level while simultaneously dropping a combat-boot stomping oomph that exudes violence without even trying.

I could keep going. Every additional listen reveals additional highlights; every track merits discussion. But this review is overlong and overdue. It has seen a great many drafts--so much so that both artists have managed to release respective solo albums in the interim. In any case, it is now tardy enough that I assume most of you dear readers have already A. listened and B. subsequently formed your own opinion. If you haven't: I obviously can't recommend this album enough. Alicia and Ruby have created something special with this one, and it most certainly merits your attention. Hardest album I've heard all year, bar none. Please check it out here!
​
The Recreant - The Code is V... Outlive the Code was released Feb. 9th, 2026. Find it here! Tapes/CDs via Fiadh, Vinyl via Elasticstage

---

The Recreant can be found at Bandcamp
Cover Artwork by Crying Wolf