AN NCS PREMIERE: INNERO — “THE SHAMAN”

 Premieres  No Responses »
Dec 062018
 

 

January 27th is the date established by Third I Rex for the release of ChaosWolf, the debut album from the Italian black metal band Innero, which was formed in 2016 by members of Malnatt and Bland Vargar. We are told that in creating the album Innero followed “a shamanic path of inner consciousness and renewal”, and thus it’s fitting that the first excerpt from the album, which we present today, is a song called “The Shaman“.

This is a song that wears the intensity of its emotions on its sleeve. The music is dramatic, and scarring, and seems to reveal the deep scars of its creators’ own suffering and disappointments. Continue reading »

AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): DISCIPLES OF THE VOID — “DISCIPLES OF THE VOID”

 Album Reviews, Premieres  5 Responses »
Dec 052018
 

 

We’re well past the point when it’s possible to neatly classify black metal by national origin (if there ever was such a point). Yet when I think of Finnish black metal, images of thrusting goats and leering demons still come to mind, spawned by the feral, carnal viciousness deployed by some of the country’s best-known blasphemous deviants.

Those same images sprang to mind more than once in listening to the self-titled debut album by the anonymous Finnish duo Disciples of the Void, but mixed with other mental imagery, because the album is a multi-dimensional affair, one of those gripping surprises that is both atmospheric and rampantly physical in its sensations, successful in its appeal to base instincts and also evocative of less carnal and more august, but more frightening, visions.

After a handful of additional paragraphs by way of introduction, we will have a full stream of the album for your exploration in advance of its release by Primitive Reaction two days from now on December 7th. Continue reading »

IN THE WOODS…: “CEASE THE DAY”

 Album Reviews, Exceptions to the Rule  1 Response »
Dec 052018
 

 

(This is Andy Synn‘s review of the new album by In the Woods…, which was released on November 23rd by Debemur Morti Productions.)

While this will most likely be my last review before I unveil my annual end-of-year onslaught of lists and lurid opinions, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be my last review of the year, as I already have several items earmarked for further coverage during the post-Listmania come-down.

I didn’t want to sit on this article any longer though, as this particular collection of words has been burning a hole in my brain for several weeks now, and I was starting to worry that I was risking permanent damage if I waited much longer.

So here’s a few thoughts, and maybe even a “hot take” or two, about the magical new album from In The Woods… Continue reading »

WHOREDOM RIFE: “NID: HYMNER AV HAT”

 Album Reviews  8 Responses »
Dec 042018
 

 

(Andy Synn wrote this review of the new album by the Trondheim black metal band Whoredom Rife, which was released by Terratur Possessions on November 30th.)

While the prevailing narrative may be that 2018 has been “a Death Metal year” (and not without good reason), to dismiss the plethora of thrilling, chilling, and blistering Black Metal albums released over the last twelve months would be a huge mistake.

I’ll be saying more about these next week, when I’ll be rounding up the multitude of meaty metallic morsels which I’ve had the chance to sink my teeth into this year (and highlighting some of my favourites) but, in the meantime, I thought I might try and bring a little bit of extra attention to Nid: Hymner av hat, the second album by Norwegian duo Whoredom Rife, which was released last week. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: ACHERONTE — “TRASCENDENTAL WILL”

 Premieres  4 Responses »
Dec 042018
 

 

It may be wise to hyperventilate before listening to the song we’re premiering today, to enrich your blood with oxygen now rather than be caught gasping before you get to the end, because “Trascedental Will” is a no holds-barred, full-throttle adrenaline rush from start to finish.

The track comes from Son of No God, the second album by the Italian black metal band Acheronte, which will be jointly released on December 11th by GrimmDistribution (Ukraine) and The Triad Rec (Italy). Continue reading »

LISTMANIA 2018: POPMATTERS’ LIST OF “THE BEST METAL OF 2018”

 LISTMANIA 2018  19 Responses »
Dec 042018
 

 

As part of our annual NCS LISTMANIA extravaganza we re-publish lists of the year’s best metal that appear on web sites that appeal to vastly larger numbers of readers than we do — not because we believe those readers or the writers have better taste in metal than our community does, but more from a morbid curiosity about what the great unpoisoned masses are being told is best for them. It’s like opening a window that affords an insight into the way the rest of the world outside our own disease-ridden nooks and crannies perceives the music that is our daily sustenance.

One of those sites is PopMatters. It has been in existence since 1999. In its own words the site “is an international magazine of cultural criticism and analysis” with a scope that “is broadly cast on all things pop culture”, including “music, television, films, books, video games, sports, theatre, the visual arts, travel, and the Internet”. PopMatters claims that it is “the largest site that bridges academic and popular writing in the world”. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: (THE TRUE) VEILED — “SELFCHASM”

 Premieres  2 Responses »
Dec 032018
 

 

In Blinding Presence is the debut album by the German black metal band Veiled, who refer to themselves as (The True) Veiled in an effort to distinguish themselves from other groups who have veiled themselves in the name of Veiled — though as you’ll discover, the music itself sets them apart.

The album will be released on January 7th by Into Endless Chaos Records, and today we present a track from the album named “Selfchasm“. That title, along with the album title, will seem like inspired choices once you’ve heard the music. Continue reading »

MEMFIS: “IMPERIUM”

 Album Reviews  1 Response »
Dec 032018
 

 

(Andy Synn reviews the new album by the Swedish band Memfis, which was released through all digital platforms on November 30.)

Exactly one week from today I plan to commence my annual Year End Round Up, kicking off with my traditional three-day binge of “Disappointing”, “Good”, and “Great” albums, which will primarily serve as a way for our readers to catch up on, or to reassess, various things they may have (dis)missed over the course of the last twelve months, followed by the publication of my highly-anticipated (by me, anyway) “Critical” and “Personal” Top Ten lists at the end of the week.

That doesn’t mean I’m done writing/reviewing just yet though. In fact I plan to spend the rest of this week highlighting a couple of new (or, at least, new-ish) albums, and will be following up next week’s listrionics with a few articles aimed at giving certain hand-picked artists some extra, post-list coverage.

So, without further ado, allow me to (re)introduce you to proggy metalloids Memfis, and their brand new album Imperium. Continue reading »

ABDICATE: “REBORN IN DYSPATHY”

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
Dec 032018
 

 

(Vonlughlio reviews the new fourth album by the brutal death metal band Abdicate, which will be released by Sevared Records.)

This time around I’m very fortunate to be doing a small write-up for the new album by Abdicate entitled Reborn in Dyspathy, set to be released via Sevared Records in the upcoming weekd.

This project came to life back in  2008 in Rochester, New York (where I used to live in that same time), and released their debut EP Relinquish the Throne that same year. It showcased the talent and potential that could be developed in upcoming releases. Continue reading »

SHADES OF BLACK: STILLA, ASTROPHOBOS, SE LUSIFERIN KANNEL, NASHEIM, MUSMAHHU

 SHADES OF BLACK  6 Responses »
Dec 022018
 

 

Against my expectations I found time to do some further listening while on vacation, and to write this column. As in the case of yesterday’s round-up, I haven’t been able to cast the listening net as widely as usual, but nevertheless found some very appealing music to recommend, including a just-released new album, which is the first item in today’s collection.

STILLA

Preview: Synviljor is the new fourth album by the Swedish band Stilla, which was released by Nordvis Produktion on November 30th. Continue reading »

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