NO CLEAN SINGING

SEEN AND HEARD ON A SATURDAY: NO/MÁS, NOICE AHOLIC, VREID, TANIN’IVER, DE L’ABÎME NAÎT L’AUBE, SINDRE NEDLAND

Album Reviews, Exceptions to the Rule, Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC No Responses »

Dec 132025

(written by Islander)

I’m kicking off this week’s roundup of new songs and videos with a preview of what’s coming at NCS between now and year-end, mainly for newcomers to our site since the old-timers know what the drill will be.

First, we still have a few year-end lists from “big platform” sites and zines that we’ll share. I have two of those in hand now, which I’ve written about for posting on Monday. I suspect next week will bring at least one more, and then we’ll be done with that aspect of LISTMANIA.

Second, having just completed a week’s worth of Andy Synn’s year-end lists, on Monday I’ll also start posting lists from other NCS writers and special guests. I have X of those in hand at this point, and more will roll in. My plan is to spread those out a bit, with the goal of completing the posting of them by the first week in January.

Third, beginning in January I’ll again roll out the one list I’m responsible for, my choices (with lots of assistance from our readers and other writers) of the year’s Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs. On that note, if you want to make nominations for those awards, you can still do that by leaving a Comment on this post. Continue reading »

2025 – A YEAR IN REVIEW(S): THE PERSONAL TOP TEN

LISTMANIA 2025 8 Responses »

Dec 122025

(Andy Synn finishes off “List Week” with a bunch of his personal favourites)

Here we are again folks, at the end of the road (for now, at least… I’ll probably still sneak in a few more reviews, including another “Best of British” and a “Things You May Have Missed”, before the end of the year).

And, as always, I’m finishing off “List Week” with my “Personal Top Ten”, i.e. the ten albums that have hit me the hardest, or stayed with me the longest, or otherwise just spent the most time on my regular playlist during 2025.

They aren’t necessarily the biggest names (several of them, in fact, are brand new bands making their first steps onto the wider stage this year), or even the “best” albums (some of them didn’t even make the cut for my “Great” list), but they’re definitely the ones (including some which came as a surprise to me) which had the biggest impact on my listening habits in 2025.

Of course there are lots of other artists/albums I wish I could have included here – honourable mentions go out to the likes of Tombs, Monolith, Crossed, Abigail Williams, and Terzij de Horde, all of whom were very much in the running for a place in my “Personal Top Ten” (the latter coming close to making the “Critical Top Ten” too) – but it should still give you some good insight into how my tastes have developed/regressed/mutated over the course of the year!

THE AMERICAN OBSERVANCE TOUR MMXXV: PRIMITIVE MAN, OTAY:ONII, TODAY IS THE DAY, AND GUILTLESS (ANAHEIM, CA)

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Dec 122025

(Last week our friend Ben Manzella attended the Anaheim stop of the American Observance MMXXV tour with Primitive Man, otay:onii, Today is the Day, and Guiltless, and he sent us the following written report accompanied by his own excellent photos of the experience.)

While I needed to check the dictionary to confirm, patience and endurance are considered synonyms of one another. With a tendency to seek out music that focuses on darker themes or subject matter and is played at a loud volume, I sometimes describe my favorite music to seek out as endurance music.

Primitive Man is a band I’d immediately categorize as endurance music, and unlike a variety of things in life, the endurance is rewarded, in my opinion. Their latest full-length record, Observance, brings to mind a quote that has been a favorite of mine since high school, when I learned about it through the Machine Head record, The Blackening. The original quote by Jean Puget de la Serre is, “The mirror which flatters not.” I’d say the last thing in the world that is needed right now is flattery, and I welcome all musical reminders of that. Continue reading »

2025 – A YEAR IN REVIEW(S): THE CRITICAL TOP TEN

LISTMANIA 2025 6 Responses »

Dec 112025

(Andy Synn presents another detailed selection of 10 albums representing the absolute best of 2025)

In the words of the late, great Lieutenant Jean Rasczak… “this is for all you new people.”

Now the “Critical Top Ten” is not, and I need to stress not, a traditional “Top Ten”, in that it’s not ranked, nor is it actually intended to be the 10 “best” albums of the year (since, if we’re being realistic, that’s pretty much impossible to quantify, considering all the different factors that go into making all these different styles and sub-genres of Metal).

What it’s supposed to do, however, is provide a selection of 10 of the best releases of the year, drawn from my “Great” list (so if it wasn’t there then it’s not going to be here either… something which I try to clarify every year, even though I still get people complaining that [x] band isn’t mentioned despite the fact that, as I’ve stressed several times, if it wasn’t featured in my massive round-up over the last couple of days that means I didn’t get round to hearing it), that are designed to represent the impressive quality and creative variety of the scene over the last twelve months.

Again, it’s not comprehensive… obviously… and while I try to be as objective as possible in my selections (these aren’t my “favourite” albums of the year, those are coming tomorrow) I’m sure there’ll be lots of disagreements with my choices (in fact, looking at some of the comments we’ve already received, some of you are going to be very pleased, and a few of you are going to be very upset, but all of you should at least appreciate some of the surprises I have in store this year).

But I’ve found the best way to think about this article is as a sort of “time capsule” of the year… sure, there’s not room for everything, but when future generations look back on 2025 this should serve as an excellent snapshot of the year in Metal, across as many styles and sub-genres as I was able to squeeze into just 10 albums!

AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: EYELESSIGHT — “VUOTA SOLITUDINE”

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Dec 112025

(written by Islander)

The Eyelessight duo from Pescara, Italy present themselves as manifestations of the name they chose — blindfolded and bloodied, as if their sight had been destroyed by violent events, and their visions must now come from some other means of perception.

The pair have lived together in music since the project’s inception in 2011. The following years brought forth a demo, a live album, a collaborative release with Imber Luminis, and two albums — Mantra per sopravvivere inutilmente (2014) and Athazagorafobia (2018).

Originally released on CD, Athazagorafobia is now receiving vinyl treatment by Talheim Records Germany. The vinyl reissue will occur on December 17th, and it will include two bonus tracks, one of which we’re now premiering with a visualizer video. The song’s name is “Vuota Solitudine“. Continue reading »

CLEARING THE SLATE PART III: THEMES FALL APART

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Dec 112025

(This is the third Part of what projects to be four record-review collections by DGR — collections of multiple reviews that are shorter by his standards than what you usually see from him — all of them intended to clear his slate in preparation for his year-end lists to come.)

Just four albums after the shovelfuls of music you’ve been flinging at us already? What sort of madness is this?

At one point I swear I had a theme going for this particular grouping of albums. I cannot for the life of me remember what that theme was. I think at one point it was just me archiving September releases but that fell apart quick. The other was an attempt to cover bands that’ve been long-running but have somehow not found much footing here at the olde’ NCS cliff wall, but that too kind of hit a snag.

Finally, the ever-constant moving cogs of the metal machine assured that releases would shift back and forth and my review archive would soon resemble a crayon box after an attack by a toddler. An interesting swatch of color all splattered around places you don’t necessarily want them to be. Thus, as Part three of four, my inevitable “organization can get fucked” mindset finally kicks in. Ballast must be launched, otherwise this review boat is going down. Continue reading »

AN NCS EP PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): UPON THE ALTAR — “PROFANATION’S VAPOR”

Album Reviews, Premieres, SHORT BUT SWEET 2 Responses »

Dec 102025

(written by Islander)

In thinking about the music from Upon the Altar’s side of a 2022 split with DeathEpoch, we wrote that it left “no doubt that Upon the Altar’s mission is to devour all light.” The music was often toxic, suffocating, granite-heavy, vicious, and vocally horrifying. They allowed very little wholesome light to shine in their second album, Descendants of Evil, which followed that split. What did shine through was the band’s talent for creating hateful musical horror — a complex of vile, malicious, oppressive, desolate, and violently furious experiences.

Those of us who’ve enthusiastically fallen beneath the previous malign assaults of this Polish band will be thrilled to learn that on December 12th Godz Ov War Productions will release a new Upon the Altar EP, a six-track manifestation of pitch-black ruin named Profanation’s Vapor — and even more thrilled to hear it today through our full streaming premiere. Continue reading »

2025 – A YEAR IN REVIEW(S): THE GREAT

LISTMANIA 2025 34 Responses »

Dec 102025

(Andy Synn continues his ongoing round-up of the year with his selections for the top tier albums)

Like I said yesterday (you have read yesterday’s wide-ranging round-up of all the “Good” albums, right?) 2025 may have been a little lacking when it comes to the big names and famous faces – lots of them put in good work, don’t get me wrong, there just weren’t as many supreme stand-outs among the “old guard” as we might have hoped – but the younger and/or newer and/or more underground bands continued to absolutely kill it this year (with the “debut albums” section once again being far bigger than even I had predicted).

That being said, it was also a year of unexpectedly awesome come-back albums too, with some of the smaller gaps of this nature ranging between 7 and 9 years, and some of the larger being as long as 13 or even 30+ years, thus demonstrating that – as much as it’s awesome to see so many new bands kicking off their careers in style and helping to keep the scene alive – you never truly know when a band is going to do their best work.

Once again, I need to stress that this list of “Great” albums is in no way comprehensive – I’m sure there’s lots of albums that should be here that I simply wasn’t able to give the time and attention that they deserved – and, as “objective” as I’ve tried to be (these albums aren’t necessarily my favourites of the year, though quite a few definitely are) it’s probably worth pointing out that of course my personal tastes, values, and preferences are going to influence what gets included… so please don’t fly off the handle if an album you think is a “masterpiece” (though, personally, I try not to use that word) isn’t included here (and check the “Good” list to see if it’s there).

PS – if you’re going to comment (and I hope that you do, if only to highlight some bands/albums that you’ve discovered today or yesterday that you really like, as it’s always good to hear that these articles are proving useful) please note that I probably won’t be able to respond straight away, as I’m currently in Switzerland (which is particularly apropos considering the surprising number of Swiss bands in this list) enjoying a much needed end-of-year/post-wedding break, and I’ll try and get back to you if/when I get a chance!

DARVAZA: “WE ARE HIM”

Album Reviews No Responses »

Dec 102025

(We present Daniel Barkasi’s review of. new album by the international black metal band Darvaza, released last week by Terratur Possessions. Band photography by Necroshorns.)

When attempting to think of an active band who embodies the essence of what black metal is, can, and should be, the name Darvaza should be at the forefront of thought.

Harnessing the tried-and-true of the genre’s originators, while imposing their own devilish defiance and musical ideals, the two-piece has blazed their own path since their 2015 EP The Downward Descent, and since have steadily cemented their place in the pantheon of darkness. Ascending into Perdition in 2022 set a high marker for the band, especially impressive with that being their first full-length – a release that even the most skeptical approve of without hesitation.

At long last, the wait for the eagerly anticipated album number two is at an end, with We are Him ready to be unleashed. With the weight of expectation hanging overhead, the question is if Darvaza can continue delivering as they have. No pressure.

2025 – A YEAR IN REVIEW(S): THE GOOD

LISTMANIA 2025 13 Responses »

Dec 092025

(Today we have Andy Synn‘s mammoth second article rounding up the year that was 2025)

As we get into the real meat of “List Week” it’s probably worth stating a few things up front, for the sake of clarity if nothing else.

First off, none of these lists are a traditional “Best Of…” (the only one that’s actually ranked is my “Personal Top Ten” and that’s solely an issue of personal preference), rather they’re meant to be viewed, and used, as a curated catalogue of links and recommendations designed to help our readers catch up on some of what they may have otherwise missed over the last twelve-ish months.

Secondly, note that I said “some“, because that’s a pretty important point that might need re-affirming… since these lists (the “Disappointing”, the “Good”, and the “Great”) are neither definitive nor comprehensive in any way.

In fact, if anything, it feels like my listening habits have diverged even further from what’s “on trend” than usual since January, meaning that – either due to a lack of time or a lack of interest – you won’t be seeing some of the bigger names that have appeared elsewhere (Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration, Lonely People With Power, Viribus Unitis, Hideous Aftermath, The Hardest Thing About Being God…, etc) on any of my lists this year.

To be clear, I’m not trying to say that I have the most eclectic/esoteric tastes in the world – there’s more than enough other writers out there claiming to have listened to 500 different albums every month that I wouldn’t dare try and compete with them – nor am I trying to “show off” how much I’ve listened to this year (I think I actually ended up hearing fewer full-length releases in 2025 than I did in 2024).

But I do think that you’re probably going to find at least some stuff here you won’t have seen featured much elsewhere (not by the bigger sites, anyway) and while I’m not saying everything here is “great” (that is what tomorrow’s “Great” list is for, after all) it’s all worth checking out, at least, because you never know what sorts of hidden gems you might uncover.

PS – as always, I’ve tried to break up the list into distinct/discreet sections, highlighting a few releases here and there which I think are deserving of specific attention, and have provided links for every album here!!

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