Can a band bottle the chaos, glamour, heartbreak, and late-night energy of Hollywood into one album? Hollywood Apocalypse gives it a shot on Rather Excessive, and the result is an unpredictable ride that mixes Sunset Strip swagger with punk urgency, sugary pop melodies, and enough attitude to light up the neon on Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Apocalypse has never been shy about wearing its influences proudly, but Rather Excessive feels like the moment everything clicks into place. Frontman Ivan, who was born in Croatia, raised in Canada, spent more than two decades in Germany, and ultimately fulfilled a lifelong dream of moving to Los Angeles, describes the album as the band’s true identity. That confidence comes through across the record. Built as a rock opera with recurring characters and themes, it isn’t simply a collection of songs. It’s a musical postcard from Hollywood, celebrating both the glamour and the grit that exist side by side.
The album opens with “Good Morning Hollywood,” a brief introduction that wastes no time introducing the band’s personality. Clocking in at under two minutes, it throws crunchy guitars, raw vocals, and bright keyboard accents into the same blender. The production isn’t polished to perfection, and that’s exactly why it works. The rough edges give the song its personality, capturing the feeling of stumbling onto a loud club set somewhere off Sunset Boulevard.
Things take an unexpected turn with “A Little Psycho.” After the explosive opening, the album settles into a warmer melody that almost feels like a twisted love letter. The vocal harmonies lift the chorus while keeping the arrangement surprisingly simple. It’s one of those moments that reveals another side of Hollywood Apocalypse. Underneath the punk energy is a band that understands melody and isn’t afraid to slow things down when the song calls for it.
“Puke Stain” brings the chaos right back. A chugging guitar drives the track forward while keyboards add just enough sweetness to keep everything from collapsing into complete mayhem. There’s frustration in Ivan’s vocal delivery, but it never becomes oppressive. Instead, the song feels like someone laughing through the madness, embracing the mess instead of trying to escape it.
The album also carries genuine emotional weight beneath its wild exterior. Ivan’s decision to record “Fuck the World,”originally by German punk band The Bates, is more than a cover. It’s a tribute to his late friend Zimbl and a thank-you to one of the bands that shaped him as a guitarist. The performance barely reaches a minute, but that’s all it needs. The aggression is unmistakable, yet there’s an underlying sense of celebration that makes the song feel deeply personal instead of simply loud.
One of the album’s most adventurous moments arrives on “Love You Like A Needle.” Musical ideas seem to collide from every direction. Guitars, keyboards, and shifting textures constantly pull at your attention, creating controlled chaos that somehow never loses focus. Every member of the band leaves a fingerprint on the arrangement, making it one of the clearest examples of the collaborative spirit Ivan described while reflecting on the recording process.
After all the excess, “For Tomorrow” provides a fitting conclusion. A simple guitar line introduces the song before duet vocals gradually build the emotional stakes. The arrangement grows naturally toward a satisfying climax, then quietly settles back down, leaving the listener with reflection instead of another explosion. It’s an ending that gives the album surprising emotional balance and reinforces the idea that Rather Excessive was designed to be experienced from beginning to end.
One of the record’s biggest strengths is its willingness to embrace contradiction. Punk guitars crash into pop hooks. Raw vocals meet harmonies. Synths sit comfortably beside punk rock riffs. It would be easy for those ideas to compete with one another, but Hollywood Apocalypse finds a way to make them coexist. That balancing act becomes the band’s signature throughout the album.
Independent artists often talk about finding their own voice. Hollywood Apocalypse sounds like a band that has done exactly that. Rather Excessive takes the swagger of ’80s Sunset Strip rock, injects it with punk urgency and bright pop melodies, and turns those influences into something uniquely Hollywood Apocalypse.
Artist Information
Artist: Hollywood Apocalypse
Album: Rather Excessive
Genre: Punk Rock • Glam Rock • Power Pop • Alternative Rock
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodApocalypse
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