NO CLEAN SINGING

AGELESS OBLIVION: TEMPLES OF TRANSCENDENT EVOLUTION

Jul 032012

(In this post, Andy Synn reviews the 2011 debut album from Hampshire, UK’s Ageless Oblivion.)

You may not have heard of this band, but doubtless you will be doing so more in the future. With a fresh take on the death metal dynamic, this, their debut album, provides a master class in modern death metal, shot through with unusual progressive impulses and a slight –core edge. The former is a surprising development that showcases the organic integration of unexpected and diverse influences into the group’s sound, while the latter is far from a disparaging statement, merely an acknowledgement of the album as a product of its time and environment.

The playing throughout is deft and highly skilled, without veering into territory one could describe (often dismissively) as “tech”. While there is no doubt some complex fretwork going on here, it’s always done in service to the song and as part of an overall pattern of interlocking riffs, woven together seamlessly. Drums clatter and pound with impressive force, eschewing the simple blast-blast-blast approach in favour of punchy, jarring kick patterns and sharp, hammer-blow snare-beats, while the vocals favour a tormented, guttural howl that successfully captures an all-too-human sense of rage and despair, making a rare emotional connection with the listener. Continue reading »

SHARING IS CARING: WINDFAERER, DEW-SCENTED, LOCRIAN, ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS, AND ACOUSTIC CATTLE DECAP

Jul 032012

In this post I’m collecting things I saw and heard yesterday that I thought were worth passing on. As you can see, I’m still trying out titles for these posts. Do you like “Sharing Is Caring”? I think it conveys the kind of love we feel for all of you, and it captures the reason why we do these posts — because we care. In fact, in the immortal words of Faith No More, we care A LOT.

Yeah, you’re right, that title is pretty vomitous. I’ll keep thinking about it. Maybe I’d be better off lifting the immortal words of Bruce Willis: YIPPI KI YAY, MOTHERFUCKERS! Anyway, in this post I’ve got new songs from Windfaerer (US), Dew-Scented (Germany), Locrian (US), and Robots Pulling Levers (US), plus what has to be a worldwide first: an acoustic version of Cattle Decapitation’s “A Living Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat”.

WINDFAERER

Yesterday I listened to a song from this three-man New Jersey band (guitarist/bassist/vocalist Michael Gonçalves, violinist Benjamin Karas, and drummer JP Andrade) called “A Glimpse of Light”. It’s the second track from the band’s Solar EP, which will be self-released on July 10. It grabbed me right off the bat.

The bolting rhythm took hold of my head quickly and began slamming it up and down, and never did let go. But my head was happy, too, and not just because I got a good headband going. The swirling tremolo guitar melodies and soulful solo’s were as entrancing as the hammering drums and thrumming bass were galvanizing. The caustic vocals added an extra layer of bleeding passion to the mix. And the song has a brutal, bang-up, bass-heavy finish, too. Continue reading »

DE PROFUNDIS: “THE EMPTINESS WITHIN”

Album Reviews 7 Responses »

Jul 022012

(In this post, Andy Synn reviews the new album by London’s De Profundis.)

Despite two previous impressive albums, with this latest taking them to a total of three, along with a host of European festival appearances under their belts, De Profundis remain something of an unknown quantity to many in the metal scene. In quiet solitude the UK quintet have spent years honing their craft, both as individuals and as a group, mastering both their instruments and their progressive muse, emerging periodically with a new release or a series of startling live appearances.

With a manic, melting-pot approach to song-writing that reminds me of Canada’s Into Eternity, in frenetic style if not in sound, it takes a steady hand and a keen eye to keep a complex machine such as this from spinning off the rails. Thankfully, this sort of attention to detail and knack for clear composition is something the band have in spades, accenting their material with hints of Emperor’s promethean grandeur, Death’s inhuman technical flow, and Opeth’s blackwater dynamics.

Though a consciously complex band, the quintet aren’t afraid to go hell-for-leather when the occasion calls for it, as the opening to “Delirium” can attest, moving from a grand metal riff in the oldest tradition through a blizzard of blast-beats and weaving tremolo guitars, before settling into a twisted arrangement of catchy riffs and spiralling solos. The track matches its ferocity with a mid-song break into calm acoustics and warping, bass-led melody lines. Cleanly spoken vocals add to the melancholic atmosphere, while a simple yet precise solo plays a mournful refrain, before the track climaxes in a blackened storm of fiery notes and snare beats. Continue reading »

KORPIKLAANI’S “RAUTA” VIDEO WILL GIVE YOU HAPPY FEET

RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC 5 Responses »

Jul 022012

Are you like me? Have you ever changed your opinion about a band’s music for the better after seeing them perform live? That’s what I did after seeing Finland’s Korpiklaani on stage. There was a time when I had only a middling regard for their recorded music, and then I saw them in Seattle last year in a tour they headlined with support from Arkona, among others. I became a complete Korpiklaani convert after seeing that show.

Their set was just a complete blast — I could have continued listening to them and watching them ’til dawn. Now that I’ve been infected by their infectious exuberance, I get a big stupid grin on my face just about every time I listen to them, in part because it makes me remember how good they made me feel on that night in Seattle at Studio Seven.

I got one of those stupid grins this morning after watching the band’s new video for “Rauta” (Steel), which will appear on their next album, Manala. Manala will be released via Nuclear Blast on August 3 in Europe and August 14 in North America. Korpiklaani sing their music in Finnish, but the European limited digipak edition of Manala will come with a bonus CD that will include all the songs with the lyrics sung in English.

Anyway, there are actually two versions of the “Rauta” video — one with the song sung in Finnish and one with the English lyrics. It’s a foot-stomping good time in either language, though I prefer the Finnish. These videos follow pretty closely on the heels of two lyric videos (in Finnish and English again) for another song from Manala called “Kunnia” (Honor). It’s a good time, too. I think you would really have to be in an especially sour mood not to tap your foot and smile over these songs.

I’m also delighted to report that Korpiklaani will be touring North America again this fall, with an amazing line-up of support bands: MOONSORROW, TÝR, and METSATÖLL. So, get your hurdy-gurdy on and check out the new videos (in both languages) after the jump, along with the tour schedule. Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: SELIM LEMOUCHI (THE DEVIL’S BLOOD); THE DECIBEL TOUR

Interviews 6 Responses »

Jul 022012

Photo by Sandra Ludewig

(On April 11, 2012, BadWolf interviewed Selim Lemouchi, the guitarist and composer for Dutch occult rock band The Devil’s Blood.)

Selim, the creative force behind The Devil’s Blood, loves to talk. His English really is eloquent, and, though it may not be clear from the interview below, he spends a great deal of time thinking before he answers a question. His responses echo the music he writes; both unfold in long passages that dwell on ugly subjects, but do so with lush beauty.

The first night of the Decibel Magazine tour, we spoke at length about Selim’s satanic beliefs, the role of music in religion, the American government’s war on terror, and the creative process behind making psychedelic doom metal/classic rock revival jams.

———

It’s your first date of the tour and you’re fresh now, clean of blood. How do you feel?

Not really clean yet. I haven’t had a shower in four or five days. Coming here and charging up for the tour was a really exhausting experience. A lot of financial issues needed to be taken care of. We all felt pretty tired and beat-up. From note one all of that was gone, and the powers that we seek to invoke became awakened in us immediately. So we ran with it—we ran with the wolves and howled at the moon and the moon answered. Tonight was an auspicious start to an auspicious tour.

This tour is groundbreaking in America because I don’t think i’ve seen a tour in my lifetime so dedicated to satanism.

It would have been ridiculous to do it any other way. For us to tour with bands we don’t respect in an ideological sense is something we would not look forward to, especially if it’s twenty-five or more events. We feel very strongly about what we’re saying, and I know for a fact the other bands feel very strongly about what they are saying. I’ve said in the past we disagree on many points and come together on many others. To be able to grant four unique entities a stage to transform into an altar is something that has been lacking in music for a long time. We’ve seen too many fashion statements, too many gimmick bands. Too many people only concerned with the bottom line. For us the only thing that is interesting is to speak with his words and see with his eyes and to use our hands to do his work. When that’s possible it’s a very blessed occasion. Continue reading »

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS IS BREAKING UP

Metal News 11 Responses »

Jul 022012

As the post title says, Abigail Williams has just made a public announcement on their Facebook page that they are breaking up following the completion of what will be their last U.S. tour, which begins this month and runs into September.

News like this is bittersweet. On the one hand, it is most unfortunate for the band’s diehard fans — which include many of us here at NCS. The band’s latest album, Becoming (2012), was their best, and one of the year’s best black metal releases, period. It was a milestone along a path of evolution that pointed toward even brighter horizons ahead.

On the other hand, the band’s announcement made explicit something that we would have assumed, given the creative talent in this group — that the members of the band are already involved in other projects that will be releasing new music before this year is over. I have some guesses about what Ken Sorceron will be doing, but I’ll keep those to myself; it’s better to await official news than engage in speculation (yes, this is a new and uncomfortable rule for me).

After the jump, you can read the full Abigail Williams announcement, and I’ve included some music as a reminder of how good this band is / was. I’m also including the current schedule for what will be the band’s farewell tour. Continue reading »

AGALLOCH’S “FAUSTIAN ECHOES” NOW AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD

Metal News 1 Response »

Jul 022012

Concerning Agalloch’s new EP, Faustian Echoes, which BadWolf reviewed for us here, the following announcement appeared on Agalloch’s Facebook page yesterday:

Due to the overwhelming demand for “Faustian Echoes,” we have decided to make the digital download available now. We have also made both the “Grey” and “White” EPs available for digital download. Please visit our bandcamp page for these releases and other B-side and rare material. “Faustian Echoes” will be available on LP and CD at our record release show in Portland, Oregon on July 11th where we will also begin the “Faustian Spirits” month-long tour of North America. The LP and CD will continue to be sold on tour and made available to the world after the tour. Thank you for your support and please spread!

That is fine news. The Faustian Echoes download will cost you $6. You can get it, along with The Grey, The White, and a lot more Agalloch music at their Bandcamp page (HERE).

ANTEDILUVIAN / ADVERSARIAL SPLIT

Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET 9 Responses »

Jul 022012

Late last week Nuclear War Now released a six-song vinyl split by two of Canada’s most horrifying death metal bands, Antediluvian and Adversarial. I learned this through a personal message on The Living Doorway blog. I knew the message was intended for me because JGD began his post with these words: “Attention mongoloids”.

I’ve been keeping my bloodshot eyes on Antediluvian ever since being overwhelmed by their 2011 Profound Lore album Through the Cervix of Hawaah (which I reviewed here). Adversarial is a name I’ve heard, but listening to this split was my first exposure to their music. Each side of the vinyl LP has a name: “Leviathan” is the name of the side that features Adversarial’s music, and “Lucifer” is the side that includes Antediluvian’s three tracks. According to NWN, the bands collaborated on the EP’s themes, and the six songs are meant to be heard together.

Adversarial’s music is dense and chaotic, a swirling hornet hive of grinding, distorted guitars and a nearly non-stop machine-gun snare attack. Contrasting with the vicious smashing of the instruments, the vocals are slow, ghastly, and deeper than ocean trenches. The riffs are usually blazing in their speed, and there is a complexity and unpredictability in the guitar and bass performances that’s almost hidden in the unabashed ferocity of the music. Occult guitar melodies swirl up out of the dense smoke and fire from time to time, but the songs are mainly full-tilt eruptions of annihilation.

By the way, I wasn’t kidding about the non-stop snare attack — it consumes the vast majority of the drummer’s repertoire (along with a healthy dose of brutish double-bass), but man, I do dig it. Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: ANDY EFTICHIOU (MORTAL SIN)

Interviews 1 Response »

Jul 012012

(In this post, we bring you an interview by Dane Prokofiev [formerly known as Rev. Will around these parts], and the subject is Andy Eftichiou, bassist and last remaining original member of Australia’s now-defunct Mortal Sin (pictured dead-center in the above photo). Dane would like to thank Liam Guy — editor of The Fallout magazine and drummer for Brisbane-based Malakyte — for his help with this interview.)

Australia’s now-defunct (again) Mortal Sin had always been plagued with line-up woes. Taking into account the more recent internal strife that ended the band’s career once more, it was the fourth and seemingly the final time the band would split up for good; and it was just after the latest line-up had found a new guitarist in the form of the young Ryan Huthnance (second from the left above) and the new vocalist Dave Tinelt, too (far left above).

The Australian thrash metal veterans were well known for being labeled as the “Next Big Thing” in the early years of their career, thanks to their well-received debut full-length album, Mayhemic Destruction (released in 1986). It seemed set to be a most promising career, with highlights of their active days being their 1986 signing of an international album deal with Vertigo Records, the UK sub-label of the titanic Phonogram Records (to which Black Sabbath and Metallica were signed to during its early days)—which re-released Mayhemic Destruction worldwide in 1987; being tour support for Metallica on their “Damaged Justice” tour in Australia during 1989; and working with famed producer Randy Burns on their first EP, Face Of Despair (released in 1988).

By a stroke of luck, NO CLEAN SINGING managed to catch up with one of Mortal Sin’s founding members and long-time bassist, Andy Eftichiou, nearly three weeks before the band’s fourth and supposed final demise, which was announced toward the end of April 2012. We asked Andy about his flashy new hobby-cum-career, reminisced about the glorious days of early Mortal Sin, stared in awe at a recent photograph of Gary Holt wearing a Mortal Sin shirt, and more. Continue reading »

“THAT’S METAL!” – BUT IT’S NOT MUSIC (NO. 56)

That's Metal -- But It's Not Music 13 Responses »

Jul 012012

Here we go again with another edition of “THAT’S METAL!”, in which I venture timidly outside the boundaries of my metallic island in search of news, images, and videos that strike me as metal, even though they’re not music. I’ve got eight items for you today.

ITEM ONE

The first item is shown above. It’s a Buddhist and Hindu temple called Wat Rong Kun located in Chiang Rai, a large city in northern Thailand. I prefer to call it Wat Da Fuk.

It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a painter whose works have been exhibited around the world. He started out painting movie advertisements on billboards. In 1988, he was commissioned to paint murals for a temple in Wimbledon (UK) called Wat Buddhapadipa, which was the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in the UK. It took him four years to complete the murals, and there apparently was some controversy over his work because he mixed traditional Buddhist temple art with contemporary stylings. You can see the murals here, though I’m including details from two of them right after the jump.

And so in Wat Rong Kun, we have a three-dimensional architectural marvel designed by a painter. Construction began in 1997 and is ongoing. To better appreciate the detail of this construction, click this link to see a bigger version of the image. After the jump is a detail from one of those murals in the UK temple. Continue reading »

Older Entries Newer Entries