NEW ORIGIN SONG = MEGATON HEAD EXPLOSION

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  23 Responses »
Jun 022011
 

Thanks to Streaming Chaos, I just discovered that Guitar World has premiered a new song by Origin from their new album Entity, which will be released on June 7. This album has been one of our most-anticipated releases of 2011, and the new song validates all our barely pent-up enthusiasm. It’s called “Saligia” and its a tour-de-force of technical death metal. It’s not just blisteringly fast and technically jaw-dropping, it’s loaded with unexpected, brilliantly inventive guitar leads and solos. Guitarist Paul Ryan is simply mind-blowing on this song. Mind. Blowing.

And if the drumming of John Longstreth doesn’t cause your jaw to hang down like the gape of a drooling cretin, I’ll be very much surprised.  Not that you’re a cretin. If you were a cretin, you wouldn’t be visiting NCS, because the kind of discrimination in your reading and listening habits that brings you here requires supremely high intelligence. I’m just talking about a momentary resemblance to a drooling cretin, which will last only as long as it takes you to finish this song.

I’m serious. Expect jaw-dropping, eye-popping, and sloppy salivating, maybe accompanied by soft moaning when you hear this. The player below will probably be restricted until Guitar World’s exclusivity expires, so to hear the song now, visit this location. UPDATE: The web-world being what it is, the song is now up on YouTube, so although Guitar World has a nice interview with Paul Ryan in addition to the song stream, we embedded the YouTube player for the song here at NCS — after the jump.

Origin “Saliga” by GuitarWorld

Oh, and also after the jump we’ve got a clip that will allow you to hear 30-second samples from every song on the album. Continue reading »

SHORT BUT SWEET: TEMPEST, APOSTATE, AND SUPERSTITION

 Album Reviews, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC, SHORT BUT SWEET  No Responses »
Jun 012011
 

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been using these SHORT BUT SWEET features to catch up on recent EP’s by bands both well-known and just emerging. Today, we’ve got three more in the “just emerging” category. Two of the bands were recommended by my NCS co-founder IntoTheDarkness, and the third came my way via Quigs at The Number of the Blog (who correctly surmised that it would be my kind of thing, though I suspect it’s not his).

If you’ve been slumming here at NCS for very long, then you know IntoTheDarkness has a penchant for deathcore. I still have a reservoir of enthusiasm for that genre, though certainly not as wide and deep as ITD’s. He and I have had a brief, civil debate about whether today’s first two bands really belong under the deathcore banner. I can understand why he thinks of their music that way, but I’m not sure the label strictly fits. More on that later. But labeling isn’t what this post is about — it’s about the music, which should speak for itself.

IMHO, the music of these two bands happens to be worth hearing. Why else would I be writing about it? And as for the third band, I’m just a complete sucker for the style — I have been for a long time, and always will be. So, without further ado, here are a few words about Tempest (California), Apostate (The Czech Republic), and Superstition (Croatia) — plus a selection of songs for you to test drive (after the jump). Continue reading »

COVERS: THE ENSLAVED EDITION

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  22 Responses »
May 312011
 

I think Norway’s Enslaved are so talented that they can do anything they set their minds to, and do it superbly. As further proof, I have some videos for you, which, as the kids say, are fuckin’ siiiiiiiick.

Just the day after that Dimmu Borgir show that Andy Synn attended in Oslo on May 28, Enslaved played a special show in the same city at the Henie Onstad Art Centre, which appears to house Norway’s largest collection of international modern art.

In honor of Enslaved’s 20th anniversary, the Art Centre asked Enslaved to prepare a special setlist consisting of a mix of cover songs from their favorite bands as well as original songs. Among the artists Enslaved covered were Pink Floyd, Rush, Faith No More, Led Zeppelin, and King Crimson.

Thank goodness someone filmed this. So far, I’ve seen videos for the band’s performances of “The Immigrant Song” — one of my all-time favorite Zeppelin tunes — and “Red” by King Crimson, plus a drumcam view of the band’s own original song “Lightening”, from Axioma Ethica Odini. The video quality is excellent and the audio quality is pretty good — good enough to blow me away.  (more after the jump, including the videos . . .) Continue reading »

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE DAY

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  8 Responses »
May 312011
 

Nah, this isn’t going to become a recurring feature on the site, but I couldn’t resist posting this cartoon, which appeared in The New Yorker mag. Credit goes to the very clever cartoonist William Haefeli.

But since this is NCS, I think I need to throw in some music, and man, do I have some music! The band is called Mors Subita. They’re from Finland, of course. They’ll be releasing their debut album, Human Waste Compression, this summer (they’re still looking for a record label).  Isn’t that a great album title? By the way, according to Google Translate, “mors subita” means “sudden death” in Latin.

According to a press release, the CD will contain “11 tracks of aggressive, melodic and groovy metal.” They’ve just released an official video for a song from that debut album called “The Sermon”. If all sermons were like this, I would start going to church again.

Yes, it’s groovy — massively so. Yes, it’s aggressive — with fangs and claws bared. Yes, it’s catchy as a damned ebola virus. Listening to this song is like the feeling I imagine you’d get if you decided to do chin-ups on a live power line. It will send about 10,000 volts straight through to your cranial pleasure center. In other words, dis be some sweet shit. Nicely done video, too. You can watch after the jump. Suomi perkele! Continue reading »

“NEW” MUSIC FROM BEHERIT: “AT THE DEVIL’S STUDIO 1990”

 Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  5 Responses »
May 302011
 

No secret that we’re Finnish-metal fanatics here at NCS. Also no secret that we’re doing our best to become better educated about black metal. Put those two pieces together and you get this post, which is based on news that will be headline-type stuff for true black-metal fans. But first, some background for those readers who aren’t already KVLT (lifted from something we wrote back during our month-long FINNISH METAL WEEK series):

“Beherit” is the word for Satan in Syriac, a dialect of the ancient Aramaic language. It’s also the name of an influential black-metal band formed in 1989 by Nuclear Holocausto (Marko Laiho), Black Jesus (Arjo Wennström), and Sodomatic Slaughter (Jari Pirinen). After releasing two albums, the second of which (Drawing Down the Moon) appeared in 1993 and became a BM classic, the band broke up.

Beherit then rose from the ashes in 2008, with original members Nuclear Holocausto (having returned to Finland from Thailand) and Sodomatic Slaughter joining newcomers Ancient Corpse Desekrator and Abyss. After 14 years of silence, the band released their third album, Engram, in 2009.

And now the news: Beherit is releasing, for the first time, their true debut album, originally recorded in 1990. In the band’s words: “You NEVER HEARD this recording or the two previously UNRELEASED tracks featured! Finally unearthed from Sodomatic Slaughter’s personal collection after being lost for the last 20 years. Recorded as a duo by Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance and Sodomatic Slaughter in Ala Ky Studio and mastered in 2010 by Joona Lukala.”

The album will be released in June 2011 on vinyl, CD, and tape. After the jump, we’ll give you the track list, ordering information — and a music player that will stream two of the tracks. Be forewarned: This is vicious stuff AND the music will start playing as soon as you go past the jump. Continue reading »

Time to WAKE THE FUCK UP!

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  12 Responses »
May 292011
 

Sorry to be so rude in my choice of words. I blame the music I’m about to play for you. Let me try that again:

It’s time for you to shake off the somnalent after-effects of your Saturday-night slumbers and become fully alert. Is that better?

So, maybe you really aren’t ready to wake up and would prefer to remain dozy and slothlike for a while longer. If so, do not watch the videos I have collected to begin this sleepy Sunday. The music will not allow you to remain soporific. Or somnalent. Or slothlike. Or other words beginning with S.

For our five-alarm music today, we have an offering of new and old music videos. First up is a new performance video from a French band of which we are big fans here at NCS — Eryn Non Dae. After that, an evil song from Black Hole Generator (Norway), with an official video that’s almost as disturbing as the music. Then, two more new videos — one from Egyptian-born Nader Sadek and the other from The Generals (Sweden). And finally, I’ve got a new song from a UK band called The Soulless (formerly Ignominious Incarceration). The styles of metal are diverse, but all this music will whomp you in the noggin.

If you’re not awake and banging your fucken head after hearing all these songs, then, as a trained medical professional, I believe I can clinically classify you as comatose. Continue reading »

DIVE IN TO DEIVOS DAMMIT

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  7 Responses »
May 272011
 

I thought I was finished with blogging for the day, but then one of those things happened to me. One of those things where I decided to take a break from my day job and listen to a bit of music and had a HOLY FUCK!! moment. When those moments happen, the second thing I think (after thinking HOLY FUCK!!) is, “I gotta get this up on the fucking blog ASAP!” I’m afraid I just can’t keep hot discoveries to myself — have to share.

Here’s how this HOLY FUCK!! moment came about: NCS reader and frequent commenter Utmu sent me an e-mail three days ago with a handful of recommendations. Lazy, distracted monkey that I am, I didn’t check out his links until that work-break I took about 30 minutes ago. It so happens that the first of Utmu’s recommendations was a Polish band called Deivos.

The name rang a faint bell, perhaps because I heard or read something about one of their two albums — Emanation From Below (2006) or Gospel of Maggots (2010) — but I was sure I’d never heard their music. So, I followed Utmu’s link and found a new song from a new album (Demiurge of the Void) that’s due for release by Unique Leader Records on September 27.

That song turned out to be just fucking awesome. It really reminded me of a cross-section of two death metal bands I dearly love — Fleshgod Apocalypse and Decapitated — in the sense that it’s a flat-out, jet-fueled, turbo-charged, smokin’ hot, rubber-laying drag racer of a song, with the staging lights all lit green. Wonderfully fast, tight execution and an unstoppable groove. Just too damned much fun to hog for myself as we accelerate toward the weekend. Go check it out after the jump — and I found one more song from that forthcoming album for you, too. Continue reading »

NEW GOJIRA SONG: “OF BLOOD AND SALT”

 Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  26 Responses »
May 262011
 

I’m in a hurry, so no words, other than to say my new hero (and occasional NCS writer) Siddharth Darbha just e-mailed me a link to this, which purports to be a new Gojira song from their long-awaited EP, The Sea Shepherd, and that it purports to include guest participation by Devin Townsend and Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah).  I have to go change my underoos now.

VIDEO ROUNDUP: FROM EXILE AND SHINING

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  1 Response »
May 252011
 

This morning brought news of two brand new videos that hit the silver screens overnight, and neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will stay us in the swift completion of our appointed rounds in delivering them to you. Both songs are amazing. Both videos are beautifully made. In other words, these are must-see offerings.

Two weeks ago we posted a feature on the very impressive new EP by Atlanta’s From Exile — a compilation of four covers from the extravagant songbook of Nine Inch Nails under the title Just Like You Imagined. The band have now released a video for one of those songs, the ephemeral, otherworldly “A Warm Place”. Of the four excellent songs on the EP, that purely instrumental piece made the deepest impression on us.

As we said in our review: “From Exile’s take on the song magnifies the rush and power of the sound, and a more flowing, reverberating guitar lead/solo by Emil Werstler (Daath) replaces the isolated keyboard notes of the original. Werstler’s contribution is a superb and all-too-brief piece of instrumental extravagance, thankfully reprised again near the song’s end.” The simplicity of the video suits the song — Werstler standing in an empty upper floor of a church, doing his thing, illuminated by the natural light filtering softly through stain-glassed windows.

The seventh full length album from Sweden’s Shining is called VII / Född Förlorare”, which in English means “Born Loser”. It was released this month on the band’s new label Spinefarm Records, and includes guest appearances from Erik Danielsson of Watain, Chris Amott of Arch Enemy, Peter Bjärgö of Arcana, and Nordman, who is one of Sweden’s biggest pop stars. Shining have now released an official video for the song called “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel” — which is the first video the band have ever released in their 15-year history. The video is expertly filmed and edited, and it’s powerful. And the song — the song is simply fantastic. (more after the jump . . .) Continue reading »

BURY YOUR DEAD: SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE!!!

 Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  2 Responses »
May 242011
 

Well, fuck yes. If we had any doubt that Bury Your Dead had shaken off the detritus of melodic metalcore and gotten back to their fuckin’ hardcore roots, those doubts are dead, gone, cremated, and the ashes scattered to the winds — because as of about 45 minutes ago, the band uploaded their first new song since Mat Bruso rejoined BYD.

Most of our current readers won’t know this, but the really old-timers will: We started this site, and picked the name NO CLEAN SINGING in protest over what happened when Mat left BYD, when Myke Terry stepped up as the new vocalist, and when the band thereafter went right off the rails and into metalcore no-man’s land.

So, you can imagine how stoked we were to find out that Mat was coming back to BYD. Actually, you don’t have to exercise your imaginations, because we laid out our feelings pretty clearly in this post. Since then, we’ve been waiting patiently for new music — for confirmation that BYD was back in the nasty, brutish land of no clean singing. Actually, we really didn’t need proof — for fuck’s sake, Mat now uses “nocleansinging.com” as the web site URL in his Twitter account (“@SoAloneSoAlive”) — which is just too cool for words.

But need it or not, we’ve now got our confirmation. The new song — “Slaughterhouse Five” — is a fuckin’ jaw-breaker, a badass sledgehammer of hardcore and metal, a fine sign of what’s to come on that new album. Go past the jump to have a listen, and get some more news about the album and BYD’s touring plans. Continue reading »

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