Islander

AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: SCITALIS — “SUFFERING”

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Jan 102025
 

(written by Islander)

It seems to have become a tradition at our site to spread the dark word of the Swedish black metal band Scitalis: In 2021 we premiered their 2021 debut EP Awakening (and what an awakening its was!). In the following year we then premiered a song from their debut album Doomed Before Time. In 2023 we also premiered their stand-alone single “Thy Offering,” which was the work of a revised lineup. And now…

…and now we’re helping Vendetta Records announce a new Scitalis album, which has been set for release on January 24th. Entitled Maledictum, it is described as “a haunting exploration of despair and wrath inspired by Sweden’s witch trials during ‘Det stora oväsendet’ (1668–1676).” Once again, today we’re also hosting a song premiere from the new record. Accompanied by a gripping video, its name is “Suffering“. Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: MOONDARK

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Jan 102025
 

(In December NCS contributor Zoltar introduced our full streaming premiere of the long-awaited debut album by Sweden’s Moondark, which was released in that same month by Pulverised Records. And now he follows that with an interview of Moondark‘s Johan Jansson.)

Remember what your mom always said back when you were a kid: good things always happen to those who said innit? She probably hadn’t Moondark in mind when she told you that but I’m sure you get the point as, indeed, those Swedes’ first proper album The Abysmal Womb is one titanic, heavy-as-fuck doom/death monster, with the emphasis on the DEATH part if you will.

And the fact it only took them almost thirty-two years (!) to complete it and that they somehow perdured over the years despite having recorded until then only one demo tape and played one single show is a testimony to how freakin’ good this is. Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: BLACKDEATH

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Jan 092025
 

(We like to think that we’ve never published a “bad” interview, but of course some are better than others. The one below that Comrade Aleks brought us from his discussion with Para Bellum from the Russian band Blackdeath is one of the best ever. You’ll see.)

If we take into account the pre-Blackdeath projects Draugwath and Black Draugwath, then it’s easy to count that the band will reach its 30th anniversary in 2025.

For almost three decades, brothers Para Bellum (vocals, bass) and Abysslooker (guitars) keep on producing their own black metal with absolute dedication and some tendency to experiment, remaining one of the oldest Russian bands in this genre. With Maya on drums since 2007, this time Blackdeath enlisted the support of the second guitarist Der Nukleare Herjann (better known as Arjan Peeks), who spread the heathen malice through the Netherlands bands Cultus, Heimdalls Wacht, Uuntar, and more.

Naturally, an enhanced lineup produced the recording of a different kind, and the band’s eleventh album Mortui incedere possunt proves its firm position in the black metal underground. Even though Blackdeath never dealt with Lovecraftian beliefs directly, the interview with Para Bellum turned out great. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 6): CALCARATA, POLEMICIST

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Jan 092025
 

(written by Islander)

In my discussion of a Warlust song in yesterday’s Part 5 of this list I hinted that today’s selections, like that one, would include some fantastic guitar solos, which tend to be a rarity in extreme metal. The presence of those solos is a big reason for my choice of today’s two songs. It’s also the reason why I put these two together in today’s installment, though I think you’ll discover other reasons when you listen.

CALCARATA

When I came across the cover image for this German atmospheric black metal band’s debut album Der müde Mensch last September I couldn’t resist checking it out. A giant snail being ridden by a hooded figure? I’ll bite! Turns out I found the music irresistible too. Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): GRAVE ALTAR — “SHRINES OF HATRED”

 Album Reviews, Premieres  No Responses »
Jan 092025
 

(written by Islander)

To cut to the chase: You are about to hear one of the most thoroughly exhilarating, constantly surprising, and utterly devilish albums this baby of a new year has yet given us. We will be lucky indeed if the rest of the year gives us anything else that’s this much fiendish fun.

What we’re referring to is Shrines of Hatred, the second full-length of Grave Altar from South-West UK that’s coming out on January 13th via the Vicious Witch label. “Black/Thrash” is the genre label that will be affixed to it, but it’s better called Black Magic. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 5): THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT, WARLUST, URFEIND

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 082025
 

(written by Islander)

Welcome to Part 5 of this evolving list of infectious metal songs from last year. I’m not sure there’s any kind of organizing principle that explains why I put the following three songs together in this latest installment. They felt right together even though they sound very different, but I don’t know why.

Anyway, I think you will enjoy them. To check out the preceding four Parts and to understand what this list is about, go here.

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT

With tongues in cheeks but also sticking straight out, we’ve explained our difficulty in being entirely objective about The Monolith Deathcult. As Andy wrote in his review of their latest album, “We’ve been friends, we’ve been enemies… and then there was that unfortunate incident where we all swapped brains… but our love for the band’s music has never waned.”

Or as I wrote upon hearing that album’s title track last February: “With our long history slavishly lapping at the feet of The Monolith Deathcult, you didn’t really think we’d overlook the fact that they have a new album coming out or that they’ve released its title track, did you? Perish the thought!” Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: MŮRA — “NEEDLE CATHEDRAL”

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Jan 082025
 

(written by Islander)

Můra is a Prague-based Blackened Death/Doom Metal band originally formed in 2020. In the following year they released their debut EP, Doom Invocations and Narcotic Rituals. Later this month two respected labels (Doomentia and Caligari) will jointly release Můra‘s second EP, Needle Cathedral, and today we proudly premiere its title song. Continue reading »

EX DEO: “YEAR OF THE FOUR EMPERORS” (AND A HISTORY ESSAY)

 Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET  1 Response »
Jan 082025
 

(In the following article our contributor Didrik Mešiček provides not only a review of Ex Deo‘s new EP, which will be out on Friday of this week via Reigning Phoenix Music, but also a history lesson.)

There’s no band that bridges the gap between ancient history and metal quite as much as Ex Deo. I think it’s not a very contentious opinion to say that the side project of Kataklysm’s frontman Maurizio Iacono has musically surpassed the main band, even though the reach of Ex Deo‘s audience is much smaller. Ex Deo will be releasing a new EP called Year of the Four Emperors, which continues the story from their last album, on January 10th. Let’s hope 2025 goes a bit better than the year 69 CE went in the Roman Empire.

So because this is a release very tightly linked with history and because I’m a history nerd, we’re going to be doing something slightly different and that means including a lot of history into what’s meant to be an article about an EP. Who’d have thought you can come to NCS to learn about things other than music, eh? Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: FUMES — “KAMAZOTZ”

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Jan 072025
 

(written by Islander)

In naming their records and their songs the Mexican black metal band Fumes have shown a talent for combining words in distinctive ways that also point the way toward the character of the music: Their 2022 debut EP was named Stellar Murders Upwards. The title of their forthcoming debut album is Skeletal Wings Unleashed. And that album’s first single was “Stellar Ascension Infernal.”

Today we present a second single from the album. The name of this one — “Kamazotz” — will be less understandable for many fans, but it also turns out to be suggestive of meanings behind the music and its sensations as well. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 4): GAEREA, GROZA, DEWFALL, DIZZINESS

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 072025
 

(written by Islander)

Welcome to Part 4 of this evolving list of infectious metal songs from last year. Today, as you can see, I’ve turned in a black metal direction and also included four picks today instead of three. To check out the preceding three Parts and to understand what this list is about, go here.

GAEREA

Even though Gaerea‘s career had already reached impressive heights before last year, it’s fair to say that this Portuguese band’s 2024 album Coma was a breakout hit, not only garnering widespread critical acclaim and tremendous support from listeners but marking an evident new chapter in the band’s musical evolution. Continue reading »

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