KUBLAI KHAN TX isn’t here to play nice. With the drop of Exhibition of Prowess, they’ve delivered a punch that hits harder than ever, out today via Rise Records. Texas-born and bred, these guys have been hammering out relentless hardcore for over a decade, but this album? It’s a whole new beast.
Opening with “Supreme Ruler”, the band wastes no time setting the tone. A metalcore torpedo aimed straight at your head, it’s pure KUBLAI KHAN TX: direct, brutal, and designed to last. Matt Honeycutt’s vocals are straight-up vicious, and the band’s message is crystal clear: No frills, no bullshit. If you’re not ready for it, step aside.
The tracks “Theory of Mind” and “Low Tech” have already made their mark, amassing millions of streams, and now they find a new home within the album’s 24-minute onslaught. There’s no excess here—just pure intensity, packed with pit-ready breakdowns and a rhythm section that hits like a freight train.
The band doesn’t experiment much with the formula that’s worked for them, but that’s the point. They don’t need to.
As the record barrels forward, “Darwinism” stands out, commanding listeners to bang their heads like it’s a goddamn battle cry.
And then there’s “Cannibal”, where guest vocals from Dave Peters (THROWDOWN, EIGHTEEN VISIONS) add a layer of grit that pairs perfectly with Honeycutt’s raw delivery. There’s no room for weak moments here—the whole album is built to break bones and split heads.
If you’re looking for chaos, Exhibition of Prowess isn’t where you’ll find it. This is precision brutality, with hints of CODE ORANGE and HATEBREED’s ferocity, wrapped in the signature swagger only a Texas band could pull off.
The riffs carry a low-slung, groove-heavy vibe that flirts with nu-metal, but don’t mistake this for anything but pit music. And if you’ve ever seen KUBLAI KHAN TX live, you already know—these tracks are going to ignite mayhem on stage.
Tracks like “X” (clocking in just under a minute) prove that KUBLAI KHAN TX isn’t here to indulge in anything unnecessary. The band delivers what fans expect—music that feels like a slap to the face, each track designed to knock you down. You can feel the weight of every note, and when Honeycutt screams, “Get the fuck out of my face,” you know he means it.
Guest features, head-crushing breakdowns, and just enough straight-edge fire—Exhibition of Prowess is the band’s strongest flex yet. KUBLAI KHAN TX isn’t about to reinvent the wheel, but they’re sure as hell going to flatten you with it. Crank this album loud and prepare to feel the heat.
Everything’s heavier in Texas, and this album proves it.
