AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): BUNKER 66 — “BEYOND THE HELP OF PRAYERS”

 Album Reviews, Premieres  1 Response »
Apr 282021
 

 

Way back in 1970, advertising executive Jerry Della Femina wrote a book in which he asserted that advertising is “the most fun you can have with your clothes on”. Advertising? Really? Easy to scoff at that claim, and to conclude that Jerry’s horizons were way too limited. We’d feel much more confident in claiming that listening to the new Bunker 66 album is the most fun you can have with your clothes on, even if it might make you feel like ripping them off and running wild into the streets.

Even for an audience of dyed-in-the-wool metalheads, we know that’s an audacious proclamation. But this new record, Beyond the Help of Prayers, really is a completely exhilarating thrill-ride, and today you’ll have the chance to discover that for yourselves via our full stream of the album in advance of its April 30 release by Dying Victims Productions. Continue reading »

BONGZILLA: “WEEDSCONSIN”

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
Apr 282021
 

 

(We present Gonzo’s review of the new album by Bongzilla, which was released on April 20th by Heavy Psych Sounds.)

Unlike a fine wine, weed doesn’t age well. Even if you keep it stored at just the right temperature, it’ll lose its potency and flavor at around six months to a year. This is quite obviously a bummer and just proves you should embrace the moment and roll up that joint you were going to smoke. Do it quick, before you forget what you were gonna d… wait, what were we talking about again?

Ah, right. It’s been 16 years since we’ve heard anything new from stoner metal mainstays Bongzilla, but as they fire up the amps and pack a fresh bowl for Weedsconsin, they’ve proven that they’re far more resilient than the ephemeral shelf-life of their favorite substance. Continue reading »

THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED (BUT SHOULDN’T)

 Album Reviews  6 Responses »
Apr 272021
 

(It’s the end of the fourth month, so here’s Andy Synn with four killer cuts you may have missed)

As we come towards the end of the month… I take a look at my life, and realise there’s nothing left.

No, wait, sorry, that’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”. Let me start again.

As with every month, April was filled with delights, disappointments, and a diverse array of albums which we simply didn’t have time to cover.

So, in what may or may not end up becoming something of a regular feature, I wanted to dedicate today’s article to providing some short but sweet summations of a handful of high-quality records which might have flown under your radar over the past several weeks.

Continue reading »

AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: GRAVEBORN — “TRANSMIGRATOR”

 Premieres  No Responses »
Apr 272021
 

 

On May 25th the Boston-based death metal band Graveborn will be releasing their fourth album, Transmigrator, which they describe as “a continuous play concept about eternal cycles, the ever-changing self, and its place amongst billions of others”. It also reflects the band’s own cycles and the changes in their musical approach that have evolved since the release of their first single in 2012.

Once a deathcore band, Graveborn have moved away from that style and more toward a form of death metal that is in some ways reminiscent of the likes of Fallujah — though they still prove themselves capable of giving listeners a vigorous beating. The song we’re premiering today, which is the album’s title track, is a prime example of the band’s different (and divergent) musical facets, and it comes with a lyric video that makes excellent use of Mark Erskine‘s eye-catching cover art. Continue reading »

AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: GLOOMY GRIM — “THEY ARE WAITING”

 Premieres  No Responses »
Apr 272021
 

 

It seems, as wise people have said for millennia, that all good things must come to an end. And so, after a career that has spanned a quarter-century, the Finnish symphonic black metal band Gloomy Grim will be releasing their final album later this month.

This new and last release is entitled Agathonomicon, and it includes 10 tracks that revel in darkness and horror. So far, two singles from the album have emerged, and today we bring you a third one — “They Are Waiting” — before Satanath Records and MurdHer Records jointly issue the entire release on April 28th. Continue reading »

SHADES OF BLACK (PART 2): RIIVAUS, SHRINE OV ABSURD, RAAT, KWADE DROES

 SHADES OF BLACK  No Responses »
Apr 262021
 

 

In Part 1 of this column yesterday I promised that Part 2 would includes streams of five complete released I’ve recently discovered and want to recommend. But being short on time, I’ve had to leave the fifth one for another day. Due to the same time constraints, I’ve included only some very high-level impressions of each of the other four by way of introduction, rather than attempting to write more thorough reviews.

RIIVAUS (Finland)

Riivaus is the solo endeavor of Hoath Daemnator, who under different pseudonyms is also a member of Sacrificium Carmen, Wömit Angel, and Nôidva (among other groups). Flying the Riivaus banner, he released a debut album in 2017 (Lyöden taudein ja kirouksin), which I haven’t heard, and about 10 days ago released a compact second full-length named Hehkumaton. Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): LUCIFUGE — “INFERNAL POWER”

 Album Reviews, Premieres  No Responses »
Apr 262021
 

 

The German band Lucifuge was born in 2018 as the solo project of Equinox, who wasted no time rapidly discharging a demo, an EP, and the Ride the Beast debut album that same year. The creative fires burned just as hot and bright in 2019, resulting in two more EPs and a second album, Der AntiChrist.

And just last year, Lucifuge released yet another full-length (The One Great Curse) and a single that proved to be the title track to Infernal Power, the latest and most accomplished Lucifuge album yet, which is rapidly approaching its April 30 release date via Dying Victims Productions — and which we’re premiering today. Continue reading »

SHADES OF BLACK (PART 1): DJEVEL, NIGHT CROWNED, MEDIUM

 Album Reviews, SHADES OF BLACK, SHORT BUT SWEET  No Responses »
Apr 252021
 

 

Much like yesterday I got a very late start this morning, having enjoyed a long night of virtual carousing with a big group of co-workers at my fucking day job. Like yesterday I thought I’d just pull together a couple of things for this usual Sunday column so I wouldn’t be too late in posting it — and again reconsidered. Just too much stuff I want to share.

This two-part post thus provides a lot to take in. I’m confident that few people will enjoy everything I’ve chosen — though I’m equally confident you’ll find at least something to enjoy if you at least taste-test everything I’m recommending.

I organized this collection by beginning Part 1 with two singles that I thought were great companions for each other and then following them with a stylistically very different EP. Part 2, which I’ll post tomorrow, will include streams of five complete releases that I will only have time to introduce briefly.

DJEVEL (Norway)

Like the cover art for Djevel’s new album Tanker som rir natten, the second advance track released last week is lunar in its atmosphere, a wintry nightside excursion that’s deeply immersive. In its manifold sensations it’s dreamlike, depressive, menacing, and I’d go so far as to say romantic. But it’s as visceral as it is mesmerizing, thanks to Faust’s gripping drum performance (the vibrant timpani-like booming is an especially nice touch) and the warm companionship of the bass, performed by new member Kvitrim (Vemod, Mare), who also handles the harsh vocals. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD ON A SATURDAY: PORTAL, REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER, MOROKH, THIS ENDING, MORTUARY SPAWN, NADJA, ALUSTRIUM, BEAST MODE

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  2 Responses »
Apr 242021
 

 

Because I got a late start on the day and have a lot of personal shit to attend to, my original plan was just to pick a couple or three songs and make this an abbreviated round-up. But I kept coming across tracks and videos that I really wanted to share, so this collection mushroomed.

It also amused me, as it often does, to build in some stylistic whiplash, particularly in the arrangement of the last half of these picks. Hope you find something here that will make your day a better one.

PORTAL (Australia)

I probably overlooked one or more news missives, but I wasn’t aware until yesterday that Portal had a new album on the way. When I discovered that fact, it produced the kind of a blood-congealing yet spine-tingling experience I usually have when wondering what new horrors will be headed our way from this band. Continue reading »

AN NCS INTERVIEW: GOAT AGGRESSOR (MALUM)

 Interviews  No Responses »
Apr 232021
 


photo by Ville Ruusunen

 

(Karina Noctum has brought us the following interview of Goat Aggressor, a veteran drummer and member of the Finnish black metal band Malum, whose fourth album, Devil’s Creation, was just released by Purity Through Fire.)

In this interview with Finnish drummer Goat Aggressor we talked about his most recent release with the band Malum. The band offer a melodious harmonic sound with well-structured songs. Devil’s Creation is another gem for all those who like the Scandinavian underground. Continue reading »

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