AN NCS PREMIERE: SARABANTE — “A DAY WITH NO SUN TO RISE”

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Jun 012016
 

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Following their 2011 debut album Remnants and a 2013 EP, Έρμαια Των Καιρών / Under The Shadows, the Greek hardcore band Sarabante have returned with a new full-length named Poisonous Legacy, which is due for release on June 10 by Southern Lord. What we have for you today is the premiere of a new song called “A Day With No Sun To Rise“.

The album’s striking cover art provides a telling visual clue to the emotional resonance of the music, which reflects the ongoing economic crisis and political turmoil in Greece. “A Day With No Sun To Rise”, in particular, is a bleak and bludgeoning affair that hits hard on multiple levels despite its sub-three-minute length. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): KOMMANDO — “DISTROYER / IRON GOAT TRIUMPH”

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Jun 012016
 

Kommando-Distroyer

 

I imagine that when I discovered the existence of this album it was like being a wolf with an intriguing scent in his nostrils. I saw this new band name, and then I saw the pedigree of its members. It made my ears go up, figuratively speaking (if only humans could actually raise their ears like spikes to the sky!). And then the music made me feel like a wolf on the hunt, too.

This band, Kommando, includes members of the German black metal juggernauts Dysangelium and Endstille, but spinning their talents in a very different direction — one that makes you lope after them in a rabid gallop, tongue out and eyes wide and red.

I’m not sure I can name all the buttons this album pushes in my head, but I can damned well try. It’s the least I can do, because it’s one of the best things I’ve heard this year. Continue reading »

AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: HELLEBORUS — “HELLEBORUS BLACK”

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May 312016
 

Helleborus-The Carnal Sabbath

 

On June 17, Satanath Records (Russia) and Black Plague Records (USA) will jointly release The Carnal Sabbath, which is the debut album by Colorado’s Helleborus. The album has been a long time coming — we debuted a song from it (“Coils”) in March of last year, and other songs from the album have surfaced periodically since then. But now the full album release is nearly upon us, and we’re very happy to bring you the premiere of another new song — “Helleborus Black” — in the form of a drum cam video.

Helleborus — which is the scientific name for a genus of beautiful but poisonous flowers that bloom in winter — was created by the brothers Jerred and Wyatt Houseman. Last June, KevinP interviewed Wyatt for us and asked about the album that was then taking shape, drawing this response:

“The Carnal Sabbath is the title of the album and there will be 9 featured tracks…. My lyrics reflect aspects of sexual mysticism, death worship, and The Qabalah. With each track I have reached into the dark corners of my mind to reproduce some of my deepest introspection. My desire is to cast a shadow of my own on a lot of these areas. Each track harnesses a very potent and romantic force of energy. We do not demand contact from the other side but romanticize our own connections with it.”

Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: DENOUNCEMENT PYRE — “WORLD ENCIRCLER”

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May 312016
 

Denouncement Pyre-Black Sun Unbound

 

Black Sun Unbound is the third album by Australia’s Denouncement Pyre, due for release by Hells Headbangers on the 22nd of July. It is truly a well-chosen name, one that captures the album’s dark, searing, unearthly energies; its poisonously radioactive atmospherics; and the inspirations of a band who have themselves gone beyond the boundaries of their past work. Earlier this month we praised the album’s first advance track (“Scars Adorn the Whore In Red”), and today we have the pleasure of bringing you a second one — also well-titled: “World Encircler“.

Denouncement Pyre have described the new album, which follows their last full-length Almighty Arcanum by three years, in this way: Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: RIKET — “AVARTER”

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May 312016
 

Riket-Avarter

 

Riket (a Swedish word for “The Kingdom”) is the name of a new band, but its three members are metal veterans. The band was founded by vocalist Johan Nephente Fridell and guitarist/bassist Tobias Jakobsson, both of whom are members of the band Netherbird (whose last album we reviewed here), and they were joined in this enterprise by drummer Adrian Erlandsson (At the Gates, The Haunted), who was himself also a member of Netherbird at one time. Riket’s debut EP, Avarter, is being released today in digital form, and we bring you a first listen for all four songs.

There is a story behind the EP, as told by Nephente, that’s worth reading if you want to understand what inspired this project and how the songs were recorded, and so I’m including it here before spilling a few words of my own about the music. Of course, no one would blame you if you decided to start listening to the songs while you read — because they’re damned good. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: CLOAK — “THE HUNGER”

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May 312016
 

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(Grant Skelton introduces our premiere of a song from the new EP by Cloak.)

The self-titled debut EP from Atlanta, Georgia’s Cloak will be released June 20 on Boris Records. No Clean Singing is proud to present you, our diabolical denizens, with an exclusive stream of the second track from the EP.

“The Hunger” is a brooding, blackened track that’s full of ire and venom. But whereas most black metal likes to go right for your throat with a cleaver, Cloak prefer to nick slowly away. Less like an impalement and more like the Chinese “death by a thousand cuts.” The track has a bitter, foaming motif further expounded by the ghostly piano and acoustic guitar accompaniment just prior to the three-minute mark. Spooky melodic leads from guitarist Max Brigham and guitarist/vocalist Scott Taysom work in tandem with the latter’s blistered, grainy vocals. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: THE VATICAN — “THE TRUMP CARD”

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May 302016
 

The Vatican-The Trump Card

 

The Vatican’s new EP, The Trump Card, will be released tomorrow. It hits like the blast front of a pipe bomb packed with nails and ball bearings. It propagates outward with explosive force, leaving rubble and bone splinters in its wake. Less than 10 minutes, and you’re done, trying to clear your head while reaching for the play button again and gurgling, “what the fuck did I just hear?”

The horrors and bizarre ironies of our current age are spread around us in abundance, and The Vatican have selected a choice few of them for their sardonic lyrical commentary. In the band’s words, the EP is: Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE: CVINGER — “EMBODIED IN INCENSE”

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May 272016
 

Cvinger-Embodied In Incense

 

More than two and a half years have passed since I last wrote about the Slovenian black metal band Cvinger, in connection with their excellent 2013 EP, Monastery of Fallen — and then failed to pay proper attention to the band’s debut album, 2014’s Enthronement ov Diabolical Souls. But I’m not making that mistake again.

Cvinger’s new album Embodied In Incense will be released by Art Gates Records worldwide on May 30, and it definitely should not be missed. To make sure you don’t miss it, we’re helping to premiere a full album stream in this very post. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: SLUDGEHAMMER — “DEMONS FROM THE WOODWORK”

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May 272016
 

Sludgehammer-The Fallen Sun

 

When I first heard the name Sludgehammer, I was guessing slow, crushing, dreary, doomy… sludge. But when I heard the song we’re premiering for you today from their debut album The Fallen Sun, I quickly realized I was largely off-base — but far from disappointed by the surprise.

Sludgehammer make their home in Toronto, Canada. The Fallen Sun is set for release on June 10 and follows their 2014 EP, Organ Harvester. When asked to comment on this new song you’re about to hear, guitarist Jeff Wilson responded as follows: Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE: BEHEXEN — “THE POISONOUS PATH”

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May 272016
 

Behexen-The Poisonous Path

 

Today Debemur Morti Productions releases the new fifth album by the infamous Finnish horde Behexen. Its name is The Poisonous Path, and we’re helping deliver the stream to your ears.

The smart move would be to skip down to the bottom of this post and start playing the album, even if you intend to read the following paragraphs. The album is so good that there’s no reason to lose any time before inviting it into your head, where it will trigger the release of adrenaline and then drive all other thoughts away with blades and fire. Continue reading »

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