Andy Synn, Author at NO CLEAN SINGING

Andy Synn

BLACKER THAN THE BLACKEST BLACK: LACASTA / MAGDALENE / WINTER GRAVES

Jun 232026

(Andy Synn transitions from covering Hardcore to Black Metal with today’s trio of killer cuts)

The UK is experiencing another sweltering heat-wave this week (let me tell you something, the shift from “temperate” to “temperate tropical” here is having serious consequences for a country whose infrastructure was primarily designed to retain heat and resist cold and damp) which means now is the perfect time to start listening to some blisteringly cold Black Metal, right?

Of course, since I’ve been writing about a lot of Hardcore in the last few weeks maybe a bit of a transitional step is required… so here’s three booming blasts of blackened fury from a trio of bands who also wear their Punk and/or Hardcore influences loudly and proudly.

SHORT BUT SWEET: CONDUIT / TORTURE REALM / VOMIT FORTH

SHORT BUT SWEET 1 Response »

Jun 182026

(Andy Synn tries to tempt you with another terrific triptych of short form releases)

The last one of these “Short But Sweet” collections I did was all about Hardcore… albeit, firmly of the more Metallic persuasion… and is well worth checking out if you haven’t already done so (read all about Ecotage, Melting, and Rats Will Feast here).

I promised, however, that next time I’d focus more on the Death Metal side of things, which brings us to today’s trio of terror from Conduit, Torture Realm, and Vomit Forth.

BEST OF BRITISH: SCORDATURA / TEMPLE GUARD / URZAH

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Jun 172026

(Andy Synn has three more prime cuts of British beef to share with you today)

Look, I know I’ve titled this series of columns the “Best of British”, but I’ll admit that that’s not always the case… sometimes the artists/albums I feature here are just “good”, rather than “great”, and it’s more about me just wanting to write about them, and get you to listen to them, rather than literally claiming they’re the “best”.

Today, however, I really do have three excellent example of the “Best of British” for you, courtesy of Scordatura (Death Metal), Temple Guard (Metallic Hardcore), and Urzah (Post-Metal).

YOU’RE NOT HARDCORE (UNLESS YOU LIVE HARDCORE)

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Jun 152026

(Andy Synn highlights his history with Hardcore, along with three recently-released gems)

I’ve mentioned it in passing before, I’m sure, but I don’t think I’ve ever really gone into how important Hardcore was as part of my formative years as a music fan (and still is to this day).

Like most of us, I’d imagine, my early forays into forming my own music taste were somewhat scattered and inconsistent, and it wasn’t until a friend of mine at the time (whose name I’ve long since forgotten) lent me a CD of various Metal and Hardcore acts, introducing me to bands like Earth Crisis, Zao, and Vision of Disorder – then a little later the likes of Shai Hulud, Ringworm, All Out War (all three of which I was lucky enough to get to see live again last year) – that I truly began to develop a sense of what I really liked (and didn’t).

It wasn’t just that these bands were loud, aggressive, and filled with the sort of energy that I needed back then (and still do now) it was the way they weren’t afraid to wear their ideals and beliefs loudly and proudly… standing for something as part of an actual counter-culture that prioritised things like collective resistance and communal action, rather than simply being against whatever the current “thing” was… that made me feel like this was music with more substance, more meaning, than what the mainstream charts at the time were full of.

And while my personal experiences with the wider “scene” weren’t quite so positive – the increasing presence of insular cliques and “crews” (with their mean-girls style “you’re not tough/cool enough to sit with us” vibes) and the growing emphasis on “conformity” over “community” (especially when it came to judging the worthiness of someone’s “mosh style”) meant I once again found myself as an outsider amongst outsiders – I’m happy to see that there are still bands (and fans) out there fighting the good fight and standing up for what they believe in (and making some kick-ass music at the same time).

The reason I’m saying all this is because while I still love Hardcore, I don’t necessarily live Hardcore (and if you don’t know what that’s a reference to feel free to ask your parents)… but that’s not going to stop me from highlighting as many bands as possible from across the ‘core spectrum (whether that’s Hardcore, Metalcore, Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Mathcore, etc) that I think our readers should hear.

SHORT BUT SWEET: ECOTAGE / MELTING / RATS WILL FEAST

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Jun 112026

(Andy Synn presents three short-but-savage examples of the Metallic Hardcore arts)

Ok, I’ll admit it, I’ve been neglecting the short-play side of the scene again

So today I’m going to shine a light on three hefty pieces of Hardcore – of the more Metallic variety, naturally – whose brief run-time still packs one hell of a punch.

And then, if you’re lucky, I’ll follow up with a more Death Metal focussed one next week, deal?

KHEMMIS – KHEMMIS

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Jun 102026

(Andy Synn girds himself to take on the epic new album from Khemmis, set for release this Friday)

Self-titling an album is always a bold move.

After all, what it says to an audience… for better or worse… is “this is the definitive version of who we are“.

It stands to reason, then, that self-titling an album when you’re already more than a decade into your career, with four other incredibly successful records already under your collective belt, is an even bolder move.

Because it doesnt’t just say “this is who we are“, it also says “this is what we’ve been building to all this time“.

So let’s see exactly what Khemmis have been building, shall we?

CORRUPTION PACT – UNANSWERED CRIES

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Jun 082026

(Andy Synn kicks off another week here at NCS with a brutish blast of Hardcore/Death/Grind)

Last week was a big week for Hardcore/Metalcore (the good kind, obviously) with the release of new albums from both Converge and 100 Demons (as well as a whole host of other, equally abrasive acts from across the ‘core spectrum).

And while I’m hoping to write a little something about them later on this month (I’ve already got Embrace the Black Light pencilled in for the next edition of “Things You May Have Missed”) I thought that my time and energy might be better expended covering something that probably needs the exposure a little more.

Which is why today we’re taking a look at the recently-released debut album from France’s Corruption Pact, which delivers a short, sharp burst of stripped-down, straight-to-your-face Hardcore – blended with a lethal dose of razor-edged, Death Metal influenced riffing and pissed-off, Grind-inspired politics – that gives absolutely zero fucks and takes no prisoners!

THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED (BUT SHOULDN’T)

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Jun 042026

(Andy Synn offers another four killer examples of albums you may have overlooked last month)

This particular edition of “Things You May Have Missed” is definitely less diverse than yesterday’s article (which you can, and should, read here if you haven’t already), but that doesn’t mean it’s totally lacking in variety, as while there’s definitely a focus on the more “blackened” side of the spectrum – not by conscious decision, I might add, that’s just what ended up making the cut this time around – there’s also a wealth of twisted dissonance, grinding fury, sludgy groove, and depressive angst on display across these four albums.

So, without further ado, let’s see what else you may have missed… but shouldn’t… last month.

THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED (BUT SHOULDN’T)

Album Reviews 1 Response »

Jun 032026

(Andy Synn presents four fascinating releases from May that are well worth checking out)

May was an odd month… obviously we were quieter than usual here at NCS due to our annual NWTF/MDF break, but it also felt like there were fewer releases during that time that I really wanted to check out.

Of course, that all changed in the last week or so, as it seemed like every band/label out there decided to back-load their releases, meaning that there’s a lot for me to get through in this article in order to feel like I’ve at least semi-caught up with what I missed.

Hell, I’ll probably end up doing a second one of these “Things You May Have Missed” pieces later this week… and even then I’ll have to leave a few things on the cutting room floor (such as my wider thoughts on the new Devin Townsend, which some have called “a masterpiece” but which feels to me like yet another attempt to sum up his entire career in one “definitive” form that, as a result, simply iterates on existing elements and ideas rather than actually adding to his artistic palette).

Until then, however, enjoy some (hopefully) new music that you may otherwise have missed!

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 195): ERDVE

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Jun 012026

Recommended for fans of: Celeste, This Gift Is A Curse, LLNN

Call them what you will… Sludge, Post-Metal, “Negative Hardcore”… there’s no question that this band, by any other name, would still sound just as dark and heavy.

That name, by the way, is Erdve, and the band in question hail from the balmy Baltic shores of Lithuania, a country which – despite its relatively small stature on the global metal stage – has also given us the likes of Sisyphean, Aortes, Juodvarnis, Luctus, Awakening Sun, and many more.

And with the recent release of their thrilling third album, Epigrama, last week now seemed like the perfect time to take a deep dive into their discography courtesy of The Synn Report!

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