Andy Synn Archives - Page 142 of 160

FALLUJAH: “DREAMLESS”

May 052016

(Andy Synn reviews the new album by California’s Fallujah.)

Depending on who you speak to, Fallujah are either the future of the Technical/Progressive Death Metal genre(s), or simply the latest in a long line of interchangeable faces to front the modern edge of the movement.

Coming off the back of a sophomore album (The Flesh Prevails) which also divided opinions over whether it was a potential masterpiece, or simply a solid enough album which caught the crest of an unexpected wave of hype (my own opinion falls somewhere in between those two extremes), the Californian quintet certainly have a lot to prove and, as a result, there’s a lot riding on both the critical and commercial success of Dreamless, their third… and finest… full-length release. Continue reading »

THE BEST OF BRITISH 2016, PART 1: ALLFATHER / BURIAL / WODE

Album Reviews 6 Responses »

May 042016

(Andy Synn presents a trio of reviews, with accompanying music streams.)

So today’s column is actually a bit of a coincidental confluence of events and circumstances.

My original intent was simply to put together a single piece of writing covering three separate bands as something of a direct response to last week’s epic Schammasch triple-review. However, as I started to pull together the necessary three albums to fulfil this idea it dawned on me that what I was actually doing was accidentally putting together another edition of my “Best of British” column, such as originally reared its ugly head last year.

Call it coincidence. Call it kismet. Call it what you will. But whatever you call it, prepare yourself for some homegrown metallic thrills and spills of the Sludge/Doom/Hardcore/Black/Death variety! Continue reading »

SCHAMMASCH: “TRIANGLE” (PART III: THE SUPERNAL CLEAR LIGHT OF THE VOID)

Album Reviews 6 Responses »

Apr 292016

(We present the third part of a three-part review by Andy Synn of the new triple album by the Swiss phenomenon Schammasch, which is being released today. Part One is here; Part Two is here.)

The third and final part of Triangle is bound to be the most divisive and most hotly debated segment of the album, showing a very different third face of the band which (almost) entirely eschews the metallic menace of Part I and instead finds the band taking the esoteric progressivity of Part II to its logical conclusion, delving deep into a metaphysical void of moody, ambient minimalism, one which is punctuated here and there by exotic instrumental passages and hypnotic drumming rhythms.

It’s the sort of album designed to either be loved or hated – there’s no middle ground here – and it’s also the sort of album that will potentially take more than a few listens to fully appreciate and come to terms with as well. Continue reading »

SCHAMMASCH: “TRIANGLE” (PART II: METAFLESH)

Album Reviews 5 Responses »

Apr 282016

(We present the second part of a three-part review by Andy Synn of the new triple album by the Swiss phenomenon Schammasch. Part One is here; Part Three arrives tomorrow.)

As it was written, so let it be done… I said I was going to write this review in three parts, echoing the construction of its subject matter, and with the publication of Part I yesterday it seems I’m now committed to this three-part treatise on the esoteric wonders of Triangle.

Now, as much as I foresee a certain amount of wailing and wringing of hands about it, the triple-album format of this release really does give the band a chance to fully indulge their more atmospheric ambitions and progressive proclivities while still retaining a sense of continuity and over-arching identity across each separate segment.

Apropos of this, with Part II you can really feel the doomier, proggier side of the band coming through, although this neither downplays the doomy touches already making themselves known during Part I, nor the blackened bite that many of the songs on Part II still possess. It’s simply an acknowledgement that for Schammasch this is yet another step onwards down a path of their own choice and making. Continue reading »

SCHAMMASCH: “TRIANGLE” (PART I: THE PROCESS OF DYING)

Album Reviews 5 Responses »

Apr 272016

(We present the first of a three-part review by Andy Synn of the new triple album by the Swiss phenomenon Schammasch.)

It’s no secret that Contradiction, the second album by Swiss occultists Schammasch, is one of my all-time favourites. But where does a band go from a massive, potentially life-changing release like that?

Well, apparently you push things even further with a triple-CD release, split up into three distinct movements concerning the process of death, detachment, and transcendence, comprising some of the most ambitious, progressive, and creative compositions you’ve ever put together.

For such a mammoth undertaking it only seemed fitting to address each distinct part of the album separately, so for the next three days, leading up to its physical release on Friday the 29^th of April, I’ll be publishing my thoughts on each sequential segment of Triangle, beginning with Part I: The Process of Dying. Continue reading »

FIVE [SIX] OF MY FAVOURITE… CHIMAIRA SONGS

RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC 5 Responses »

Apr 262016

(Every now and then Andy Synn shares with us lists of favorite things that come in fives, and this is another one, though he stretched the number a bit this time.)

You may have noticed that my usual output has decreased somewhat over the last week or so. There’s no need to worry, it’s just been a combination of work/band/personal commitments all coming at the same time, requiring me to shift my priorities around a bit, meaning that NCS has had to take a bit of a backseat for a moment.

That should be coming to an end very soon, however, and I have a bunch of different reviews and columns lined up for May that I think you’ll all really enjoy.

In the meantime, however, since I’m still a little pushed for time and opportunity to write, I’ve dashed off this little piece in tribute to a band I’ll always have a soft spot for. Continue reading »

THE SYNN REPORT, PART 72: INCOMING CEREBRAL OVERDRIVE

THE SYNN REPORT 2 Responses »

Apr 192016

(We present the April edition of THE SYNN REPORT, in which Andy discourses about all three albums in the discography of Italy’s Incoming Cerebral Overdrive.)

Recommended for fans of: The Dillinger Escape Plan, (early) Mastodon, Nero di Marte

Somehow this Italian quintet have completely passed me by up until now, despite releasing three extremely well-received albums within the past 8 years. Thankfully this edition of The Synn Report allows me an opportunity to rectify my mistake, and really dive into the band’s eclectic, eccentric, electrifying Prog/Tech/Math Metal stew.

Now, to be clear, when I use the term “Progressive” in this column, it’s to refer to the more chaotic, out-there-adventurousness of bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, and early Mastodon – so don’t go expecting some sort of Dream Theatre-esque instrumental extravaganza or gleaming, harmony-laden Post-Metal odyssey – as Incoming Cerebral Overdrive (or I.C.O. as they shall hereto forth be referred to) have a much rawer, more experimental vibe to their music, and aren’t afraid to take a few risks whilst also keeping things nice and heavy.

That being said, their most recent album (2012’s Le Stelle: A Voyage Adrift) definitely saw them reining in the chaotic Hardcore influences of their earlier works in favour of a more refined — though no less challenging — sound, so it’s clear that the Italian band aren’t done experimenting and progressing (in the most literal sense of the word) their sound just yet! Continue reading »

ANCST: “MOLOCH”

Album Reviews 1 Response »

Apr 152016

(Here we have Andy Synn’s review of the first full album by Germany’s Ancst.)

If the name Ancst is unfamiliar to you, don’t feel too bad about it. Though we have featured them on NCS before now, Moloch is the band’s first “proper” album release, following a lengthy and varied series of EPs, singles, splits, and compilations, which have, over the years, allowed the band to showcase their ever-evolving blend of Black Metal, Punk, Hardcore, and Drone.

What this means of course is that even those already familiar with the band and their “anti-fascist, anti-sexist, anti-religion, DIY” ethos might not know exactly what to expect from the German collective this time around, such is their history of criss-crossing and cross-pollinating genres with almost reckless abandon.

Well, you need wonder no more, because Moloch is one hell of an incendiary blast of utterly ferocious punk-edged Black Metal. Continue reading »

CULT OF LUNA: “MARINER” (A COLLABORATION WITH JULIE CHRISTMAS)

Album Reviews, Exceptions to the Rule 3 Responses »

Apr 132016

(Andy Synn reviews the new collaborative album between Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas, which was released on April 8. Accompanying photos are by Pär Olofsson.)

The name Cult of Luna should need no introduction or explanation to long-time readers of this site. After all, the stupendous Swedes have dwelled amongst the ranks of Metal’s mightiest heroes for a solid fifteen years now, and yours truly even selected their phenomenal Vertikal as the best album of 2013 (beating out stiff competition from the mighty Gorguts in the process).

The name Julie Christmas, however, might not be quite as familiar, though she certainly has considerable prestige and pedigree of her own, having acted as vocalist for both much-loved Doom/Post Metal troupe Battle of Mice and sludgy noisemongers Made Out of Babies, as well as forging her own career as a solo artist and frequent collaborator with other members of the Rock and Metal community.

Now, hopefully, this whistle-stop introduction should help give you at least a tentative grasp of why the idea of the two artists collaborating was met with such awe in certain quarters, and why Mariner has been one of 2016’s most highly anticipated albums ever since it was first announced. Continue reading »

ABORTED: “RETROGORE”

Album Reviews 11 Responses »

Apr 122016

(Andy Synn reviews the new album by Aborted.)

A funny thing happened when I first listened to Retrogore… it didn’t click with me. At all. And I say this as a huge fan not only of the last two Aborted albums (both of which I consider amongst the top tier of their work), but as a huge fan of the Belgian brutalisers in general.

In fact it wasn’t until about a third of the way into the album that it finally started to get its hooks into me, with the first flurry of tracks in particular seeming to rush by in a faceless blur of blasts and riffs and breakdowns, grind parts, tech parts, and obtrusive melodeath licks, all of which screamed “EXTREME” at maximum volume, but really didn’t leave much of a lasting impression.

This was unsettling. I’m used to Aborted practically peeling my face off right from the very first track, and leaving me with some fresh new scars that I’ll cherish for a lifetime. And that most assuredly was not happening this time around.

Could Retrogore really be that much of a misstep, or was there just something wrong with me? Continue reading »

Older Entries Newer Entries