With increasing frequency, we’re seeing bands inviting their fans inside the creative process before their songs are all fully mixed, mastered and packaged into an album’s worth of music. I think that’s smart marketing, in addition to satisfying the impatience of hungry fans like me who hate waiting around for new music from bands we like.
We had one example yesterday when The Monolith Deathcult put up on SoundCloud a preliminary version of a new song called “H.W.A.” (Human Wave Attack). And today we have yet another example: Arsis has posted a brand-new song for streaming via SoundCloud called “Since the Shadows”. Yes, that does indeed mean that Arsis is writing a new album.
Early days yet, but based on this demo version of the new song, it’s not too soon to start panting for that album to come. At least if you’re a panter like me. If you just breathe normally, like a human instead of a beagle, then you may just want to smile when you hear this song. As they say in the field of professional music journalism, it fucken rawks.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Today's guest post comes to us from Dan, who apparently is now called The Artist Formerly Known As Dan. Dan is an American temporarily transplanted to Adelaide, Australia. He has a list for you.]
So, I realize it’s cliche to make one of these lists (and maybe a bit premature?), but they’re usually useful for several reasons. Firstly, it allows me to shamelessly plug the bands I like and push my agenda on you. Secondly, it allows you to post lists of the records I forgot and tell me why my first list was wrong. I can then subsequently go back to the records I may have forgotten or never owned in the first place. Everyone should theoretically win here, since there is always music overlooked or forgotten about throughout the year. So, let’s begin.
10. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza – Danza III: The Series of Unfortunate Events
Technical, but so brutal. A perfect recommendation for someone who listens to too much vanilla-breakdown deathcore (and, for some of you, “too much” implies listening to any deathcore at all). I highly recommend seeing them in concert; they bring tons of energy. Yippie-Kay-Yay-Motherfucker.
(more after the jump . . .)
This is the second post of the day, which we don’t do very often. As the title says, this is mainly a sappy thank-you post. Of course it is, because “sappy” is my middle name. Well, it comes right after my other middle names, i.e., “wordy” and “half-assed.”
For many months after we started this blog, no one posted any comments on what we wrote. Okay, to be honest, for many months no one read what we wrote. But even after the reading started, our words were greeted by silence. Figuratively, the sound of crickets.
Not all bad, because I’ve missed the sound of crickets ever since moving to Seattle from Texas years ago. I don’t miss the appearance of crickets, just the sound of them, on warm nights, when you can’t see them. Kind of a dreamy, hypnotic sound. The sound of nature around us, undisturbed.
Where was I? Oh yeah: No one posted any comments at NCS for a long time. But now that has changed, and it’s been an exhilarating change for us. We look forward every day to seeing what readers write, even when someone calls us retarded, and we feel kinda empty on the days when none come. That’s mainly because the comments are usually better than the posts we write.
Yesterday was a classic example, certainly one of the best comment days ever. We did a half-baked riff on band names and got a slew of comments that were smart and funny and creative and educational and took the discussion off in unexpected directions, which is part of what’s so much fun about the comments we’re getting.
And did I say the comments are educational? They’re really educational! Of course, when, like us, you start in a state of embarrassing ignorance, it may not take much to be educational in our eyes, but still. After the jump, I’ll tell you the things I learned yesterday, and one thing in particular that drew me back to an album I haven’t listened to in a while, and it was just a perfect end to a beautiful Indian summer day in Seattle.
But first: Thank you to the people who commented yesterday — to Dan, and ElvisShotJFK, and Brian, and Andy, and byrd36 — and to everyone else who has taken the time to add something to this site since we started. And we don’t mean to slight those who simply read and don’t write (which is mainly what I do on other sites). We are sappily grateful to all of you, too. But if you usually don’t write and are are tempted to write something someday, don’t worry — we won’t bite! (more sappiness, plus some music, after the jump . . .)
Arch Enemy comes to town and your NCS Authors turn into moths drawn to a candle flame.
On February 6, 2010, the TYRANTS OF EVIL tour stopped at The Showbox in Seattle and two of us plus our entourage were there to take in the tyranny of evility. We file this report (along with a big batch of our regrettably amateurish photo images at the end of the post).
MUTINY WITHIN
This band first drew our attention through a YouTube video of their transplant-from-England vocalist Chris Clancy singing an operatic aria called “Nessum Dorma.” So, okay, the dude’s got some pipes. But does he belong in a metal band, and is the band itself worth a damn? Someone thinks so, because they’re signed to Roadrunner Records, they’ve got a debut album coming out on February 23, they’re touring with Arch Enemy, and they clearly had a bunch of appreciative fans in the Showbox audience.
But this is power metal, with mostly clean singing, and you know that’s not our thing (see the name of this site). Anything we might say would come off as a put-down, but that wouldn’t be our intent. We’re just not into this kind of metal. So, we’ll pass on the review and move to the next band . . . . (after the jump)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF A NEW DECADE, AND A BRAVE NEW WORLD AWAITS!
So, why did you get so hammered last night? Is it really right to start off a new decade sleeping off a bender? Well, I ain’t your mama, so my answer is: Of course it is.
If you’re like me, today may not be the best day to pound your head with metal — unless of course you haven’t gone to sleep yet, in which case metal is exactly what you need. Because if you go to sleep now, that means you’ll wake up feeling like toad shit. So, as your doctor, I advise you to listen to metal and don’t go to sleep. Ever. Be like that dude played by Christian Bale in The Machinist. Except eat more.
Now, where was I? Oh yeah, the new year. As we gaze into the bright new future, we’re thinking about all the extreme music that’ll be coming our way in 2010. We pulled together from various trade sources and internet prowling a list of extreme bands that have promised new releases in 2010, and then over the Christmas holiday your three NCS Co-Authors each picked the ones we’re most looking forward to hearing.
There were 21 bands that got at least 2 votes from the 3 of us, and that list is below. Not that we think you really care deeply about what the three of us are stoked to hear, but our brains are too fogged today to do anything but post lists. So here’s our list, and after the jump you can see the complete line-up we compiled of extreme bands who’ve promised new releases in 2010. (If you know of bands we missed, let us know!)
A Life Once Lost
The Absence
Acacia Strain
All Shall Perish
Arsis
Carnifex
Dark Tranquillity
Decrepit Birth
Devin Townsend Project
Ion Dissonance
Living Sacrifice
Meshuggah
Necrophagist
Nervecell
Neuraxis
Rotting Christ
Soilwork
Through the Eyes of the Dead
Veil of Maya
Whitechapel
Wintersun
There’s one band that isn’t on this list that deserves special comment — PIG DESTROYER. They’re missing for only one reason: Although there have been widely circulated rumors (which seem to trace back to this report) that Pig Destroyer will be releasing a new album next fall, we haven’t seen any confirmation from the band or their label. But we definitely hope the reports are true.
And now, after the jump, you can see a complete list of NCS Metal bands that have announced 2010 releases.
Two days in a row now, and Blabbermouth has posted news items that have cracked me up. Like yesterday, I figured you might could use a good laugh too.
Item No. 1 comes to us from Bulgaria. Clearly, I’m deficient in my knowledge of Bulgarian metal. Otherwise, I already would have heard of the band whose photo is above – Insmouth (not to be confused with Dominican Republic black metal band Innsmouth). According to Blabbermouth, which undoubtedly is just reprinting a press release from the band, Insmouth (spelled with one “n”) had established itself as a “legendary outfit” before breaking up in 2003 when the guitarist married a Brazilian sports reporter and moved to Brazil.
Can’t tell you how relieved I am to see that Bulgarian metal bands know how to give their fans the finger just like U.S. bands. Anyway, here’s the breaking news from Bulgaria:
The original lineup of INSMOUTH, Bulgaria’s most influential crossover band, will reunite for a performance at Tangra Mega Rock radio’s fourth birthday party on March 24, 2010 at Universiada Hall in Sofia. Also scheduled to appear are ER MALUK and ODD CREW.
Before going on an indefinite hiatus in autumn 2003, INSMOUTH enjoyed a triumphant five-year career, establishing itself as a legendary outfit on the undergound scene. The band released two albums — “3D Freak Accelerator” (1999) and “Cross Over The Crossover” (2002) — as well as the “Lara-Croft” EP (2000), with tracks like “Shakalakamuthafaka”,“Despair”, “Sexulted” and “Freak” becoming firm fan favourites.
I don’t know about you, but the thought of a song called “Shakalakamuthafaka” is already making me firm.
I tried desperately to find a download of the tune, because I just know with a name like that it’s got to be good. (Remember that ad slogan for Smucker’s jelly?) Alas, no luck in scrounging a copy of “Shakalakamuthafaka.” But just in case you’ve got a calendar conflict on March 24 and can’t catch the reunion performance at Tangra Mega Rock, I did find a video of Insmouth (one “n” dammit!) performing “Lara Croft.” Kinda like a Bulgarian version of Disturbed, but worse. But hey, if you wanna be the first kids on your block to say you’ve listened to Bulgarian metal, check it out here.
Item No. 2 comes to us by way of Estonia and a “fierce pagan metal band” band called Urt. Which reportedly means “Soul of Death” in the South Estonian language called Setu. (Stupid me, I thought Urt was the sound you make after finishing a six-pack of PBR). Anyway, here’s the breaking news from Estonia (after the jump):
This post is a two-fer. Part 2 concerns the photo above and the story in UK’s The Independent that it accompanied. But first, Part 1: Elise over at the excellent Reign in Blonde site put up an initial list of 2010 winter/spring tours rolling through the NYC area that she’s stoked about, and asked “What’s on your calendar?” On our NW METAL CALENDAR page, we’ve got a pretty complete list of tours scheduled for touch-down in the Seattle area so far, and here are a few I’m particularly psyched about:
JAN 26: Hypnose, Revocation, Binary Code
JAN 27: Nile, Immolation, Krisiun
FEB 6: Arch Enemy, Exodus, Arsis, Mutiny Within
APR 21: Finntroll, Moonsorrow, Swallow the Sun, Survivors Zero
Gonna be some serious headbanging at those shows.
Now for Part 2: A year ago The Independent reported the results of a psychological survey of 36,000 music lovers. (OK, yeah, it’s old news, but I just saw the story.) The survey showed a definite correlation between people’s personality traits and the style of music they enjoy. Check it out:
Fans of indie music, for instance, were found to have low self-esteem and little motivation, but described themselves as creative. Rap enthusiasts, on the other hand, tend to think a lot of themselves and are extremely outgoing. . . . But the study’s most remarkable discovery is that refined lovers of classical music share a high number of personality traits with those who prefer rocking out to heavy metal.
And here is the study’s summary of classical and metal lovers’ personality traits:
Classical: Classical music lovers have high self-esteem, are creative and at ease with themselves, but not outgoing.
Heavy metal: Very creative and at ease with themselves, but not very outgoing or hard-working.
Kinda cool right up til the end, huh?