NO CLEAN SINGING

SHORT BUT SWEET: CONDUIT / TORTURE REALM / VOMIT FORTH

Jun 182026

(Andy Synn tries to tempt you with another terrific triptych of short form releases)

The last one of these “Short But Sweet” collections I did was all about Hardcore… albeit, firmly of the more Metallic persuasion… and is well worth checking out if you haven’t already done so (read all about Ecotage, Melting, and Rats Will Feast here).

I promised, however, that next time I’d focus more on the Death Metal side of things, which brings us to today’s trio of terror from Conduit, Torture Realm, and Vomit Forth.

MORK: “MONOLITT”

Album Reviews No Responses »

Jun 182026

(This is Daniel Barkasi’s review of a new album by the Norwegian black metal band Mork, which will be released by Peaceville Records on June 19th.)

If you don’t evolve, you can get left behind. As humans, we learn and grow as we traverse this wild journey called life. It can be similar for music, especially for bands who have been around for quite a bit of time. Norway’s Mork is a poignant example of this principle. The solo endeavor of one Thomas Eriksen, Mork has been an active project since 2004, coming forward with a debut full-length in 2013 with Isebakke. An album that was born from the influence of early ’90s second wave black metal, with classic Darkthrone being the most obvious of reflections.

Since then, Eriksen has been consistent with his productivity, releasing a total of seven albums to date under the Mork banner, while also dropping a record with his newer side quest, the blunt and direct Udåd. The progression of Mork has been a fascinating one, leaning into experimentation and spreading his proverbial wings in later efforts, beginning with Det svarte juv and taking off from that point in 2019. Retaining the tried-and-true black metal elements, but also expanding the amount of sonic directions, the distinctly personal and memorable Dypet was a true tentpole moment, taking Mork into even fresher waters. Further risks within follow-up Syv also paid off, with it being as equally distinct as Dypet, leaning much deeper into the folk characteristics than the aforementioned predecessor.

Now with Monolitt, as with all of Mork’s releases at this point, we expect the undertone of the early second wave to be present to some degree, but also don’t know what ideas will pour out of Eriksen this time around. As it turns out, the abrasiveness has been turned up more than a few ticks, and the guitars are increasingly riff-oriented, giving a bushel of earworms that perhaps make this the most balanced and irate effort to date. Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): WARTHRASH — “NO LIGHT SHALL REMAIN”

Album Reviews, Premieres No Responses »

Jun 172026

(written by Islander)

Metal fans who aren’t familiar with the Colombian band Warthrash should be forgiven for assuming their music is straight thrash. The pointer is right there in their name, shining like a beacon on an ocean cliff. But although this band from Medellín did sink their early roots in the traditions of thrash when they started more than 20 years ago, their music has evolved in more diverse directions. Newcomers might even get a powerful sense of that by gazing upon the dark and daunting artwork by Felipe Mora that shrouds their latest album.

That album, aptly titled No Light Shall Remain, will be released on June 19th by the band’s new label, the respected Awakening Records. It’s a great display of how varied the songwriting of Warthrash has become over time, and how powerfully their performances translate those varied interests into cohesive songs.

We’re very happy to bring you a full stream of the album today, preceded (of course!) by some of our own thoughts about what they’ve accomplished. Continue reading »

BEST OF BRITISH: SCORDATURA / TEMPLE GUARD / URZAH

Album Reviews No Responses »

Jun 172026

(Andy Synn has three more prime cuts of British beef to share with you today)

Look, I know I’ve titled this series of columns the “Best of British”, but I’ll admit that that’s not always the case… sometimes the artists/albums I feature here are just “good”, rather than “great”, and it’s more about me just wanting to write about them, and get you to listen to them, rather than literally claiming they’re the “best”.

Today, however, I really do have three excellent example of the “Best of British” for you, courtesy of Scordatura (Death Metal), Temple Guard (Metallic Hardcore), and Urzah (Post-Metal).

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XXVIII: FLYING HIGH

Album Reviews 1 Response »

Jun 172026

(Today we present another monthly collection of reviews by Daniel Barkasi, who focuses his attention this time on albums released during May 2026.)

I began writing this reflecting on what was another incredible edition of Maryland Deathfest and preparing for my flight over the pond to attend and cover the mighty Fortress Festival. Well, with the time needed to complete my extensive overview, we’re finally getting back to this column. Apologies for the delay, but between that and getting my general existence sorted post-Fortress mayhem, this unfortunately got pushed to the back burner. But hey, better late than never, and we’ve got some records you won’t want to sleep on.

I also have to give a shout out to the wife, as Monday, May 25th, was our tenth wedding anniversary. Thanks for being the best and dealing with my oddball self. Time flies far too quickly, and each moment is a cherished one.

To add to personal instances, we mentioned our pregnant horse Naru was due any day. Well, during the Maryland Deathfest weekend, she gave birth to her first foal, a wonderful grulla filly who we just named Ezri. Mom and the little one are healthy as can be, doing great, and thriving at home. Life can be pretty awe-inspiring sometimes, and this is one of those moments. Excited to see this little one grow up. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: SALLOW MOTH — “BIOHYBRID VIRULENCE”

Premieres No Responses »

Jun 162026

(written by Islander)

Much has been written about the progressive death metal band Sallow Moth since this solo project of Garry Brents began releasing music a decade ago. It drew attention fairly quickly, and then the attention continued expanding with each new release.

We ourselves have devoted continuing attention to Sallow Moth’s evolution, with our Andy Synn extensively reviewing each of the band’s albums released so far — The Larval Hope, Stasis Cocoon, and Mossbane Lantern — as well as the 2024 EP Vial.

One significant reason why so much has been written about Sallow Moth is that the music has undergone a continual process of transformation, but with each phase displaying significant achievements. Heretofore, that process has led to increasingly unpredictable, unorthodox, head-spinning, and challenging concoctions of music.

Which will leave many people wondering about what happens in Sallow Moth’s forthcoming fourth album, Hydrophilous Brood, which follows Mossbane Lantern in a relatively quick year-over-year churn. We have some hints for you today in our premiere of the album’s fourth track, “Biohybrid Virulence“. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: SKJULT — “THE LIGHT WITHIN THE DARKNESS”

Calendar, Premieres No Responses »

Jun 162026

(written by Islander)

Today marks the third time we’ve premiered music from an album by the Cuban black metal band Skjult, but the first time in more than six years — because that’s how much time has passed since the band’s last album, The Voyage. Skjult’s new album, A Perfect Devouring Light, will be co-released on July 17th by Satanath Records (Georgia) and The End of Times Records (Ireland). Here is how the labels preview the new album:

With A Perfect Devouring Light, SKJULT does not extend its previous work so much as destabilize its own foundations. This fifth full-length marks a decisive conceptual shift in which light ceases to function as revelation and instead emerges as a violent, excessive force: an ontological agent that penetrates, consumes, and ultimately nullifies every structure of distinction. Arranged as a continuous liturgical arc, the album rejects the logic of discrete composition while articulating a precise sequence of conceptual intensities…

It’s probably difficult (if not impossible) for most of us to imagine the challenges of making black metal in Cuba, or frankly the challenges of living from day to day for most of the populous in a country that’s now caught in a stranglehold between its dictatorial rulers and a U.S. regime that has created an oil blockade, intensified economic sanctions, and threatened to conquer the island. Current news reports identify severe shortages of fuel, medicines, and food, and the paralysis of large sectors of the economy.

Very dark days indeed, and yet Skjult’s sole creator, Conspirator, forges on, perhaps influenced in his conceptual shift by the dire conditions around him. As a sign of what the new album brings, and one step in its liturgical arc, we have for you a song called “The Light Within the Darkness“. Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: DEFILED

Interviews No Responses »

Jun 162026

(all photos by Fukcrec Hbk)

(On June 12th Season of Mist released a new album by the long-persevering Japanese death metal band Defiled, and in advance of that our Comrade Aleks conducted an exceptionally good interview with Defiled founder/guitarist Yusuke Sumita, which we at last present today.)

Having started out in 1992, Japanese tech-deathsters Defiled have changed their lineup, sound, and, to some extent, style several times over the years. The last decade of the band’s career has been marked by a fairly regular stream of new releases, and their ninth full-length, Altered State, arrived right on schedule.

Although guitarist Yusuke Sumita is the only founding member of Defiled still in the fold, his three bandmates are also seasoned veterans, having spent between seven and thirteen years in the band. But even yet another lineup change is unlikely to derail Yusuke’s locomotive, which he, with gritted jaw, drives at full speed, demolishing barriers with concentrated, intense, and thoroughly technical death metal.

It’s barely a surprise, but despite its reputation and ambiguous cover art, the core motifs of Altered State are Orwellian visions of a present/future, but in the form of an open-to-interpretation idea of the general psychological pressure and discomfort that society and the world inflict on us. At times this material sounds like an intense CrossFit workout, and while it’s sometimes hard to enjoy with such a tough workout, it’s achievable with the right amount of practice.

I’m glad that we had an opportunity to interview Yusuke, and I’d like to thank him once more for in-depth answers, which made this interview a pretty rewarding experience. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: CRYPTS OF GOLGOTHA — “ORDER TO COMPLY”

Premieres No Responses »

Jun 152026

(written by Islander)

Denver-based Crypts of Golgotha began to form up in late 2022 when the band-members were still teenagers. By their own admission, at that time they were “without an inherent vision.” Initially they were drawn to old school death metal, but began to incorporate influences from other death-metal off-shoots, including brutal death metal and deathcore.

Their first releases were EPs — including Paths Against Divinity (released in October 2024), and The Cavernous Crypts (a March 2025 split with Cavernous) — but now they have recorded a debut album with a revised lineup. Titled Disembodied In the Arms of Perdition, it’s set for release on June 26th through DSFP Records and Return Trip Records.

One single from the album (“Elegy for a Forgotten God“) premiered last month at New Noise, and today we’re bringing you a second one, “Order to Comply“, which is the track that closes out the album. Continue reading »

AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: CVINGER — “RITE III – MASS INCINERATION FOR THE DIVINE RESURRECTION”

Premieres No Responses »

Jun 152026

photo by Blanka Slana Heine

(written by Islander)

The Slovenian black/death metal band Cvinger will have a new album named Rites ov Flesh released on August 20th by Void Wanderer Productions. It adds to a discography that began to take shape in 2013 and now includes three previous albums and a few shorter releases. Void Wanderer provides this advance description about the new record’s themes:

On the new album, Cvinger is deeply exploring the ritualistic and spiritual practices found within the left-hand path traditions of Slavic and Indian nomadic tribes. The album delves into themes of inner transformation and sacrifice—not physical, but spiritual—through meditation, spiritual visualization, extreme fasting, the use of so-called sacred plants, and the exploration of Aghori sexual rites as symbolic acts of transcendence.

Rites ov Flesh includes nine songs, each of them identified as a “Rite”, and today we’re premiering a lyric video for the third of those — “RITE III – Mass Incineration for the Divine Resurrection“. Continue reading »

Older Entries Newer Entries