August 2016 - Page 5 of 11 - NO CLEAN SINGING

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE: FRIGORIS — “NUR EIN MOMENT…”

Aug 222016

On August 25, Hypnotic Dirge will release the new album by the German band Frigoris, whose name you may recall from the praise we heaped on an advance track from the album named “Trúwen”. Entitled Nur ein Moment… (Just one Moment…), it follows the band’s 2013 debut full-length Wind and is the first part of a two-album concept that follows “the tracks of a protagonist who faces the consequences of suicide in an interior journey.” Today we present a full stream of the album in advance of its release later this week.

Through the course of the album’s six long tracks Frigoris move from passages of soft, ethereal beauty to storms of surging blackened power, interweaving elements of black metal, post-metal and doom to create a journey through a changing emotional landscape of peaks and valleys. Continue reading »

SHORT BUT SWEET: DAWN RAY’D — “A THORN, A BLIGHT”

Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET 3 Responses »

Aug 222016

(Andy Synn reviews the debut EP of the UK band Dawn Ray’d, which is out now on Bandcamp.)

As our contributor Wil Cifer wrote recently, “Crust seems to be a hot buzzword when it comes to underground metal these days”, to the extent I’m even starting to see it edge out the near-ubiquitous over-use of the terms “blackened” and “Black Metal” in certain places (but don’t you worry, I have a whole other column percolating in my head about THAT particular topic).

It seems to be one of those terms designed to bestow instant underground-cred on a band, whether or not it’s actually reflected in any aspects of their music, and, as such, I’ve seen it crudely co-opted multiple times by bands and writers who don’t seem to know (or care) what it means, they just want the artificial credibility and cultural capital it bestows.

I’m saying all this as a preamble because I want to make it clear right away that – even though their unwavering anti-NSBM, anti-fascist stance and sharp, punk-edged sound certainly gives them more claim to the term than some others I’ve seen – gritty Black Metal three-piece Dawn Ray’d don’t seem to care one way or the other whether you call them “Crust” or not.

They’re just happy to let the music speak for itself. Continue reading »

INQUISITION: “BLOODSHED ACROSS THE EMPYREAN ALTAR BEYOND THE CELESTIAL ZENITH”

Album Reviews 5 Responses »

Aug 222016

It is time to put to rest any of the grumbling you might have heard in regard to the new Inquisition. Some people were more than likely already in a bad mood after hearing the new Metallica or only had a marginal intrest in Inquisition to begin with. The truth is, their new album sounds just like them, right when Dagon lets the chords ring out with such eerie dissonance.

They are not out to win over any new fans. This is not to say they are just dialing it in, as drummer Incubus brings some sinister grooves and really lays into his high hat. In the car my wife complained the crash was a little tinny, but I didn’t hear that, and overall the mix has the dense sound that I want from them. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: ESCARNIUM — “100 DAYS OF BLOODBATH”

Premieres 5 Responses »

Aug 212016

Last fall we had the pleasure of premiering Godless Shrine of Decay, an album-length compilation of music by the Brazilian death metal band Escarnium. Godless Shrine was released by Redefining Darkness Records to pave the way for the band’s new album, which has now been set for release on October 14 by Redefining Darkness in North America and Testimony Records in Europe. The name of the new album is Interitus, and today we bring you the debut of its ninth track, “100 Days of Bloodbath”.

Since the band’s founding in 2008, they’ve released one previous full-length, 2012’s Excruciating Existence, and a handful of shorter offerings. As a retrospective, Godless Shrine of Decay documented the maturation of this band over time into a group of ravagers with a knack for writing and executing songs of soul-plundering savagery and relentless ruthlessness. As evidenced by this new song and album, they have developed a truly impressive, sure-handed mastery of evil, primal, old school death metal. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD ON A SATURDAY: WARDRUNA, DEVIN TOWNSEND, UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION, DYSYLUMN

Exceptions to the Rule, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC 6 Responses »

Aug 202016

That stunning vista above these words is what greeted my eyes this morning. I’m on a short vacation in the presence of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. I’m not telling you that to be a dick, but only because I know how vitally interested you are in my every movement, except perhaps for bowel movements.

I did tear myself away from awestruck gazing at the horizon long enough to listen to four new songs, one of which comes with a video. I thought all four were good enough that they would make a nice collection for this Saturday morning, saving me the agony of trying to sift through all the other good stuff that came out since my last round-up.

The first two songs are exceptions to our oft-violated Rule, and the last two open up the extremity throttle in very different ways. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: CARNOPHAGE — “RESISTANCE AGAINST MIND CLOUDING HERESY”

Premieres 4 Responses »

Aug 192016

Unique Leader has discovered yet another death metal band capable of dropping jaws with their technical skill, but as you’re about to find out, this band have talents that go beyond their ability to spit notes and beats with speed and precision. The band’s name is Carnophage and they are from the ancient city of Ankara, Turkey. Their new album bears the title Monument, and Unique Leader will release it on September 23.

This isn’t the first album by Carnophage, but it is the first one in eight years, with the band’s debut (Deformed Future/Genetic Nightmare) having appeared in 2008, also via Unique Leader. In those eight years, it’s fair to say there’s been a Vesuvius-like eruption in the number of bands who could be branded with the “technical death metal” label. But they haven’t all been cut from the same cloth. And although there is a high risk of reaching a saturation point, it’s still possible to stand out from the crowd.

It you happened to hear the first advance track from this album, a song called “At The Backside Of Our Civilization”, you already have an idea of the ways in which Carnophage have elevated themselves from the masses with this new album. We’re giving you further evidence today, as we present the debut of another song, this one named “Resistance Against Mind Clouding Heresy“. Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): MIST OF MISERY — “ABSENCE”

Premieres, Reviews 6 Responses »

Aug 192016

On August 31, the Swedish band Mist of Misery will release their second album, Absence, through Black Lion Records, and today we have for you a full stream of the album’s nine tracks.

We first mentioned this album in late June on the occasion of the title track’s debut. That song has a dark and depressive atmosphere, but it’s also sweepingly beautiful, with the heart-aching melody carried aloft by waves of shining synthesizer orchestration and brought home by piano measures that are by turns wistful, soulful, and buoyant. And the vocals proved to be as emotionally powerful as the instrumental music — but also barbarically abrasive.

That was, of course, only one song from an album that was otherwise still shrouded in mist, waiting to be revealed — and it has proven to be as multifaceted and enthralling as the title track. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD (BY AUSTIN WEBER): AN ENDLESS SPORADIC, COMA CLUSTER VOID, DENDRITIC ARBOR, VIRVUM, BRAZEN BULL, MELOPOEIA, COGNIZANCE, CAR BOMB

RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC 2 Responses »

Aug 192016

(Austin Weber takes over round-up duty on this Friday, focusing on new music from 8 bands. And no, the new Metallica song isn’t one of them.)

I was going to try to add some items to the next Seen and Heard when Islander told me he would be unable to do one for today. So call it serendipity, call it good timing, whatever it is, here I am with a varied post of new songs and releases to cover today since Islander is trapped in work hell. Let’s get to it!

An Endless Sporadic

While adventurous instrumental prog metal unit An Endless Sporadic may have gotten their biggest visibility boost from being featured in the videogame series Guitar Hero some time ago, the band has never ceased to continue delivering killer music. After a pause in new music for a bit of time, the band is set to release a new album, Magic Machine, on September 16th. Yesterday the band release a new animated music video/new single for “Sky Run”, which heavily features famed Dream Theater-associated keyboardist Jordan Rudess. The amazing visuals that grace the music video are from none other than NCS site favorite Costin Chioreanu, which adds that extra something special to the experience of enjoying “Sky Run”. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: ZORNHEYM — “THE OPPOSED”

Premieres 2 Responses »

Aug 192016

Zornheym is the name of an ambitious new musical project out of Sweden, the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Zorn, whose resume includes time with Dark Funeral, Devian, and another personal project, Aktiv Dödshjälp. The band’s line-up is completed by vocalist Bendler from Facebreaker, guitarist and musical arranger Scucca, and Diabolical ‘s drummer Angst.

What you’re about to hear is Zornheym’s first single, “The Opposed“, which is being released today on digital platforms by the Dutch label Non Serviam Records. The song is part of a concept elaborated in a forthcoming album which revolves around the horrors of the Zornheim mental institution and its inmates. When the album arrives, it will be accompanied by a comic strip created for each track by artist Anu Bring (Märvel, Evil-lÿn, Satan’s fall). In addition, the music features a live string section (performed by Dies Iona Ensembly) and a full choir. Continue reading »

MIGRATION FEST: DAY THREE

Concert Reviews 2 Responses »

Aug 182016

This is a recap of the third and final day of the first edition of Migration Fest, organized by 20 Buck Spin and Gilead Media and conducted in Olympia, Washington, on August 12-14, 2016. My recap of the pre-fest show and Day One can be found here, and the Day Two write-up is here.

I’m not as prompt in concluding this review of the festival as I was with the first two parts, but other commitments to our putrid site plus inconsiderate intrusions by the routine of daily life have screwed with my time since I got back to Seattle on Monday. On the other hand, the delay enabled me to upload videos of Day Three performances to YouTube, and I’ve collected those at the end of this post. I still intend to add more videos to the other write-ups as well. Continue reading »

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