AN NCS PREMIERE (AND AN INTERVIEW): KHEMMIS — “ASH, CINDER, SMOKE”

 Interviews, Premieres  21 Responses »
Jun 222015
 

 

I don’t have a crystal ball, just some experience and a willingness to make guesses, but my prediction is that with a little word of mouth and the increasing exposure of their music, Denver-based Khemmis are going to blow up. They’re excellent songwriters, they’re accomplished musicians, they pour their souls into their music — and their music is righteous. They also have a tube-assisted wizard for a mascot.

In the wide-ranging interview that accompanies the song we’re about to premiere from their debut album, “Ash, Cinder, Smoke“, I unfairly asked the band if they could sum up their sound and style in a paragraph or less for people new to their music. They did it in six words — “Like a doom metal Iron Maiden.” Continue reading »

DAGOBA: “TALES OF THE BLACK DAWN”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Jun 222015
 

 

(In this post TheMadIsraeli returns to NCS with a review of the new album by Dagoba, which is being released today.)

I’ve ALWAYS liked Dagoba. I’ve always seen them as a metalcore band, and one of the best and few worth listening to who’ve put out material in the last ten years. Their brand of the standard metalcore formula mixed with symphonic bombast and industrial precision has always really stood out, always sticking to a hefty, bruising attack. Tales of the Black Dawn isn’t really a dramatic departure, but it’s definitely the darkest and heaviest record they’ve done yet. I’m really digging what’s going on here. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD: MOHICANS, HORRIZON, ANIMUS MORTIS, BLACK SPACE RIDERS

 Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET  7 Responses »
Jun 212015
 

 

After two weeks in Texas, I’ve had 36 hours in Seattle and am now about to head north to Vancouver, with two bodyguards to fend off the paparazzi, of course. We will be taking in a Bolt Thrower show this evening (I know I’m being an asshole, but it doesn’t happen often, so I think I get a break). Before hitting the road, I thought I’d throw a few things your way that lit me up in my listening yesterday. Variety is the spice of life, and there’s quite a bit of variety in this selection.

MOHICANS

I’ve forgotten how I stumbled across this next video. I saved a link to it before leaving Seattle two weeks ago (which was right when the video came out) and finally checked it out. It’s a single video named Room 69 that spans three songs by a San Francisco band named Mohicans (pictured above). To say the video is bizarre would be an understatement, but it’s damned entertaining, even if it’s loaded with WTF? moments. Continue reading »

FATHER SYNN’S METAL CONFESSIONAL (PART 7)

 Mosh Pit  41 Responses »
Jun 212015
 

 

(Father Synn is ready once again to listen to your filthy confessions after first making his own, and then to prescribe your penance. Unburden your diseased souls below.)

This week’s confessional has a special theme my brethren (and sistren). That of chances not taken and opportunities lost. Oh the sorrow. Oh the shame. Oh the goddamn fucking irritating annoyance of everyday life getting in the way!!!

Ahem.

As always, where I lead, thou shalt follow! Continue reading »

SVART CROWN’S “CURSED IN AMERICA” TOUR: REVERSE THE CURSE!

 Metal News  4 Responses »
Jun 202015
 

 

I doubt any band has been so brutally fucked by the disintegration of the Metal Alliance Tour as the French band Svart Crown — and for those who haven’t been following the dismal news, I’ll recap it in a minute. But Svart Crown just don’t fucking quit. They’re now forging ahead on their own, with the appropriately named Cursed In America tour, and they need some support.

I’m hoping this post will in some small way spread the word about the shows they’ve got left and that people will turn out for them, so they don’t return to France with a completely shitty taste in their mouths. But don’t get me wrong — this isn’t an appeal for charity. This is a really excellent band, and you’ll be glad you saw them if you get the chance.

To recap:  Svart Crown were booked to tour the U.S. as part of the Metal Alliance Tour headlined by Deicide, along with Entombed A.D., Hate Eternal, Black Crown Initiate, Lorna Shore. On June 8, just a few dates into the tour, Entombed A.D. were removed from the tour, apparently because the promoters didn’t think the tour was making enough money to financially support them. And then two days after that, the entire tour was “cancelled”. Continue reading »

CHECKING IN (WITH CATTLE DECAPITATION AND CUT UP)

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  4 Responses »
Jun 192015
 

photo by Tim Flach

Greetings from the lovely Shreveport Regional Airport in northwest Louisiana. The project on which I’ve been slaving away in East Texas all week has ended and I’m now beginning to make my way back to Seattle after a late night of partying and an early morning of packing.

I’m feeling seriously metal-deprived, especially during the last week when I had almost no time to listen to anything or write about it. I’m going to start making up for that with a road trip to Vancouver on Sunday to catch Bolt Thrower, and then I think things will start getting back to normal around our putrid site on Monday or Tuesday, though I do have some thoughts for posts on Saturday and Sunday. Continue reading »

SHORT BUT SWEET: SANZU — “PAINLESS”

 Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET  7 Responses »
Jun 192015
 

 

(Andy Synn reviews the debut EP by Sanzu.)

Much like another recent review of mine, it’s impossible to conduct any sort of write-up of the debut EP by Australian Death Metal troubadours Sanzu without referencing the ever-present spectre of their main inspiration.

In this case the band’s particular brand of bludgeoning, biomechanical groove clearly owes a heavy debt to French heavyweights Gojira, with every nerve-jangling pick-scrape and raw, bellowing vocal line steeped in the band’s undeniable influence.

Yet there’s clearly also much more than mere hero worship going on here, as the quintet manage to put their own distinctive spin on things, opting for a heavier focus on the Death Metal side of things which allows for an even heavier delivery than that of their idols.

Also, did I mention that it’s really fucking heavy? Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: NACHTTERROR — “THE BREATH OF THE WORLD ABLAZE”

 Premieres  10 Responses »
Jun 182015
 

 

In July 2015, Hypnotic Dirge Records will release a split album by two Saskatchewan-based blackened doom metal bands — Nachtterror and Altars of Grief — which becomes available for pre-order today. The album is entitled Of Ash and Dying Light, and we’re giving you a taste of what it holds in store through our premiere of a Nachtterror track named “The Breath of the World Ablaze“.

Established in 2004, Nachtterror have previously released two EPs, 2008’s The Funeral of Man and 2012’s Beneath the Crimson Moon, and they’re currently at work on a debut album named Judgement. The vinyl version of this new split includes two songs by the band — the one we’re premiering today plus “Upon Ashen Shores”. In addition, the digital version of the album includes two bonus Nachtterror tracks (all vinyl orders will receive an automatic e-mail with the bonus tracks). Continue reading »

SHORT BUT SWEET: EXILE THE TRAITOR — “WINTER ETERNAL”

 Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET  7 Responses »
Jun 172015
 

 

(Andy Synn reviews the new EP by Scotland’s Exile the Traitor.)

Ok, let’s address the elephant in the room right away, shall we? Melodic Death/Core marauders Exile The Traitor really like The Black Dahlia Murder.

It’s obvious in everything from their song structures, to the tempos they choose, the inherent melodic spikiness of their riffs, and the subtly blackened bite of the vocals who these guys’ main influence is. Even if it apparently takes two entirely separate vocalists to successfully follow in Trevor Strnad’s portly footsteps.

Now that may all sound like criticism. It’s not. In fact, despite what I’ve said above, this is a damn good EP in its own right, bursting with unholy life and suitably necrotic energy. Continue reading »

ESSENTIAL ENTRIES: MAY 2015

 Listmania, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  11 Responses »
Jun 162015
 

 

(In this post Dan Barkasi continues his monthly series recommending music from the previous month.)

Here we go again! With May long behind us, there was a lot of material to sift through, along with a hell of a time at Maryland Deathfest to remember. All good things!

Overall, May wasn’t the best month this year, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some gems to uncover. Quite a good amount, actually, with the selections coming from a broad spectrum. Hey, that’s why I’m here – to give you the goods from all over! I try to deliver. Maybe not as exciting as the pizza delivery guy bringing carb-loaded goodies, but I do what I can!

Onward! Continue reading »

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