ABSU: “ABZU” (again)

 Album Reviews  35 Responses »
Sep 232011
 

(Our guest contributor Trollfiend proves that it’s possible to write a review of Absu’s new album despite self-inflicted traumatic brain injuries.)

(This is a transcription of a recorded conversation taken pre-review at the Gateway Psychiatric Hospital of one ‘Mr. G—-‘, who at the time of this report is in a fully vegetative state after suffering self-inflicted traumatic brain injuries and who is currently only capable of salivating profusely and muttering occult gibberish.  While two speakers are listed here in the transcript, analysis of the recording by audio experts proves conclusively that both ‘voices’ belong to ‘Mr. G—–‘. Given the nature of the ‘responses’, we have dubbed the ‘second speaker’ accordingly.)

Subconscious: I bet you can’t do a review of the entire new Absu album without using the words ‘black’ or ‘metal’.

Me: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Subconscious: It’s so black.  It’s like darkness raped midnight and this is the ebon spawn that they painted black and buried in the bottom of a disused well shaft in a cave. Continue reading »

BLODSGARD

 Album Reviews  18 Responses »
Sep 222011
 

This post began, like so many of them do around here, with a recommendation. This recommendation came from a woman who goes by the name Raven Stead. She left a note on our Contact page urging us to listen to a Norwegian black metal band named Blodsgard, and she left links for that purpose.

The first link was to a music video for a song called “Mentalt Minefelt”. The video part of the clip looks like excerpts from a black-and-white silent movie involving nuns, implements of torture, and that fallen angel we’ve heard so much about for millennia, but who knows. What thoroughly grabbed me, however, was not the pictorial part of the video but the music. So I listened to the other songs for which Raven provided links, and fell for it like a chainsawed fir tree reaching for the ground. Just fucking cut off at the roots.

That led to a correspondence with Raven, who has been working as a U.S. representative of the band, which in turn led to downloads of Blodsgard’s music (including several songs that will appear on the band’s debut album) and ultimately to a treat we’re now able to provide NCS readers — a link for the download of new music from this killer band. It’s funny how things work out sometimes if you just go with the flow, particularly when the flow leads to music that so thoroughly seizes your interest, as Blodsgard has for me.

This band started life in 2006 under the direction of Blodsgard’s songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Fredrik R and now includes drummer Kenneth Mellum (Formloff, Scarvest, Myrkgrav, Mistur) and lyricist Stein Akslen. In its earliest incarnation, Blodsgard created a full-length demo called Nuclear Extinction. Initially, it was created in extremely limited supply for fans, and it sold out quickly, though the band have now made it available for download via their web site. (more after the jump  . . .) Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: MOLOCH OF MELECHESH

 Interviews  2 Responses »
Sep 222011
 

(NCS writer BadWolf is killin’ it this week. Yesterday he turned in a Wolves in the Throne Room concert review with some amazing photos, and today we’ve got another one of his typically entertaining and insightful interviews. This time the subject is Moloch of Sumerian black-metal band Melechesh, who we find out is pursuing a PhD in philosophy, and this interview veers away from music and into some very different territory by the end. )

Melechesh want you to kill your TV.

This enlightening interview was held on St. Patrick’s day at Blondie’s in Detroit, while Melechesh was on tour with Hate, Rotting Christ and Abigail Williams. My subject was Moloch, rhythm guitarist and original member. Our conversation began with music, and the band’s excellent 2010 record The Epigenesis.

By the end our minds were on… other things.

Oh, and they were by far the best band on the bill.

BadWolf- This is your first national tour of the United States, how does it feel?

Moloch- It’s an interesting experience to say the least. We’re here to test the grounds, see how things are going. So far it’s been a mix of amazing, special and crappy. We’ve already covered a wide spectrum in the first week. From now on things are going to get really good.  (more after the jump . . .) Continue reading »

FINAL NCS T-SHIRT UPDATE

 IQ Subtraction  41 Responses »
Sep 212011
 

And why is this the final NCS t-shirt update? Because I just returned from the U.S. post office, where I mailed off shirts to every U.S. and Canadian resident who has requested one to date. Yes, I know you had your doubts, but it’s true. At some point over the next week, plain brown envelopes will begin arriving, and inside, those bold NCS readers who asked will find one of the timeless works of art that yours truly is modeling in that photo up above.

I need to give a shout-out to Chris Martin and Voodoo Screen Printing in the Seattle area, who did such a superb job making the shirts (and making them quickly), and to my friend Derick, who recommended Chris and put me in touch with him. The shirts look outstanding, in my completely un-objective opinion.

We still have shirts left, in sizes ranging from S to 2XL, so if you, your friends, or your enemies want one of these badass babies, all you or they have to do is write me. The shirts are still free, and we’re still paying the shipping charges. All we ask is that you order one only if you really will wear the shirt — which is actually asking a lot, as you’ll understand if you take a good close look at what’s on the shirt:  (after the jump . . .) Continue reading »

ONE INCH GIANT: “MALVA”

 Album Reviews  3 Responses »
Sep 212011
 

About a month ago we featured some brutal death metal crafted for the purpose of putting you in the right frame of mind for pumping iron in the gym and destroying emo posers at the same time. The name of the project was One Handed Skull Crushing. It was a side project of three musicians in Sweden, though at the time we didn’t divulge their main projects.

It’s now time to do that, at least for one of them. The more serious musical endeavor of bass player Axel Berglund is a Gothenburg band called One Inch Giant, and that band has just self-released their debut album, Malva. The musical style is dramatically different from that of OHSC, and although it may not appeal to all fans of the skull-crushers’ music, I’m been having lots of fun listening to it. As you can see, the album art is also wonderful. It’s by an artist named Emma Ekstam, and it depicts the small realm of Malva, in which all the phenomena described in the lyrics take place. To see more of Ms. Ekstam’s eye candy, go here.

I suppose the music of One Inch Giant is best described as stoner metal, though within that general genre description the six songs on Malva display considerable variety, and you don’t need unusual bladder control to get through them. All the singing is clean and all the songs are distinctively melodic. In fact, some of you might classify some of the songs as bluesy rock instead of metal, though all of them have got a satisfying element of heaviness in company with all the melodic hooks, and some are just flat-out heavy as fuck. (more after the jump . . .) Continue reading »

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, THOU, AND VIT – COLUMBUS, SEPT 4, 2011

 Concert Reviews  33 Responses »
Sep 212011
 

(NCS writer BadWolf was on hand in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month to witness Wolves in the Throne Room live — and he brought with him photographer Nicholas Vechery, whose awesome pics illustrate this review.)

Wolves in the Throne Room are, without a doubt, the best smelling metal band I’ve ever seen. I say that with honesty and seriousness. They smell amazing.

But I’ll get back to that later. First things first, I saw Wolves alongside Thou and local openers Vit at Columbus’ Ravari Room, and thank god the place was empty when I got there so I could get a good look before the floor was completely packed with bodies.

Someone could get lost in that comely place, with its abundance of dark corners. Everything about the bar felt apropos for an underground ritual—burlap-wrapped red and orange lanterns hung from a high wooden ceiling, but the atmosphere was thick and dark. Huge brick arches framed the bar and every alcove. The place could be the remains of an illegal gin distillery from the 1920’s, with all of its vitality and character.(more after the jump . . .) Continue reading »

MASTODON NUTS REJOICE! “HUNTER” IS STREAMING IN FULL WITH VIDEO ACCOMPANIMENT

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  6 Responses »
Sep 202011
 

Thanks to Heavy Blog Is Heavy, I just found out that Mastodon has released a video that includes the entirety of Hunter, their new album scheduled for release next Tuesday. You can view it after the jump.

I decided not to delay this post by listening to and watching the stream. Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think. My fucking day job is probably going to stop me from immersing myself in this until tonight. So, let me know: Should I do that or should I watch the premiere of X Factor instead? Continue reading »

ANUBIS GATE

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Sep 202011
 

(Here’s TheMadIsraeli’s promised review of the new self-titled album from Denmark’s Anubis Gate.)

Previously, I asked Islander to post about the new Anubis Gate album streaming (here) and I told you I’d review it, so here we go.  You should just listen to that stream while reading, and you’ll be sold on this without even finishing it.

For the uninitiated, Anubis Gate is a (mostly) 4-piece progressive power metal act hailing from Denmark, with an occasional 5th being added in the person of Invocator’s Jacob Hansen taking the vocal position for shits and giggles.  Hansen appeared on two of the band’s albums, with the other two fronted by a different vocalist, but now on this album vocal duties are handled by bassist Henrik Fevre.  For the initiated, there should be nothing to adapt to here, as Henrik’s voice is completely familiar — you’ve heard him doing backup vocals all the time.

Anubis Gate plays a style of progressive power metal in the heavier, more aggressive vein of bands such as Symphony X, employing down-tuned guitars, weighty grooves, massive melodic landscapes and fiery shred.  Anubis Gate, though, does all of this in a way that feels entirely original.  NO ONE sounds like these guys, NO ONE!

I’m gonna let the album’s opener speak for itself.  (after the jump . . .) Continue reading »

ANAAL NATHRAKH: “MAN AT C&A”

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  13 Responses »
Sep 202011
 

Sometimes I’m so on top of breaking news and music releases that I’m writing about it BEFORE it happens, kind of precognitively, know what I mean? And then other times, I’m so fucking slow on the uptake that I embarrass myself (and that takes some doing). Today is one of the embarrassed, slow-on-the-uptake days.

On September 6, we reported here that Anaal Nathrakh would be covering a song by a famous ska band who hit their apex in the 80’s called The Specials. The recording was to be included in DECIBEL magazine’s Flexi-Disc series. I subscribe to that magazine, but I have no turntable, so I generally just stare at the disk and wait for it to communicate its musical nature to me in some manner other than through audio waves. That usually turns out to be a long wait.

I had serious difficulty getting my mind around the concept of an Anaal Nathrakh cover of “Man at C&A”. Some of you weren’t all that perplexed by this choice. Well, you were right and I was wrong, because now I’ve heard the song and I fucken love it. The AN cover has been available for streaming since last Thursday, but of course I didn’t notice it until last night (see above re slow-as-a-fucking-sloth).

I may be late writing about this song, but I want to do something to make up for my tardiness. So, after the jump, I’ll enable you to listen not only to the AN cover but also to The Specials’ original, so you can better appreciate the complete re-wiring of the song that AN accomplished — though without completely losing touch with the original music. Check it out. Continue reading »

EYE-CATCHERS: ALL THINGS ROTTEN

 Eye-Catchers  10 Responses »
Sep 202011
 

NCS reader and multi-instrumental musician Ray Heberer gave me a great idea yesterday. He wrote me to sing the praises of a metal artist who goes by the name All Things Rotten, who will be creating the cover art for the album debut by one of Ray’s many projects, Dreams of Winter. I decided that in addition to putting together this feature about All Things Rotten, I’d make this the first installment in a continuing series on metal album art.

We’re certainly not the only metal blog that pays attention to album art, but it is something that matters to us. So it seemed only fitting that we devote some attention to artists even when it’s not in connection with a newly released platter of music. Like every other continuing feature on NCS, this one won’t appear on any kind of predictable schedule, because I’m just too disorganized and generally half-assed to manage regularity. But when the spirit moves me, I’ll do more of these. And like everything else I do here, I’m counting on the help of readers. So, if there’s an artist whose work you admire, leave a comment or e-mail me with your recommendations (islander@nocleansinging.com). And it will be even better of you send me names of people who aren’t already well-known in the world of metal artwork. If you can, include a link to someplace where examples of the art are posted for viewing.

Now, with that intro, let’s talk about All Things Rotten. He (and I think it’s a he, though I’m not positive) has done art for bands like Disgorge, Hacavitz, Snowy Shaw All Stars Band, Destroyer 666, Hirax, and many more. In addition to creating album art, he also does shirt designs and logos. He also periodically just gives away his artwork for use on album covers. For example, in browsing his Facebook page, I saw that he gave away the piece you’ll see right after the jump to the first person who replied and committed to use it on an album cover. Continue reading »

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