DEADSPACE: “THE GRAND DISILLUSIONMENT”

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Aug 162019
 

 

(Here’s Andy Synn‘s review of the new album by the Australian black metal band Deadspace, which was just released today.)

It’s been both a pleasure and a privilege to observe the musical progression of Australian DSBM collective Deadspace since I first stumbled across their Gravity EP in 2016, watching with ever-increasing interest as the band shifted, slowly but surely, away from the goth-inflected anguish of their early days towards a much more aggressive, much more “pure”, Black Metal approach in recent years.

However, it seems like the group’s steady transition away from their gothic/depressive roots has caused some consternation in their fanbase, to the point where they took the unexpected step of releasing a lengthy statement alongside their new album explicitly stating that they’d outgrown or moved beyond the “DSBM” label of their youth, and that The Grand Disillusionment shouldn’t be considered or judged as such.

Which is a little ironic when you realise that there are moments on TGD where the group hearken back towards the DSBM side of things more than they have done in quite some time… Continue reading »

SHOKRAN: “ETHEREAL”

 Album Reviews, Exceptions to the Rule  4 Responses »
Aug 152019
 

 

(This is Andy Synn‘s review of the third album by the Russian band Shokran, which was released in February of this year.)

There are a couple of reasons I selected the third album from Russian quartet Shokran as my second review of the week.

Firstly, switching out the grimness and grime of Shadow Tentacles in favour of the polished, melodically-stylised sounds of Ethereal makes for some welcome contrast, both for me and (hopefully) for the reader, and forces me to switch up my writing a little in a way that that doesn’t just involve googling additional synonyms for “dark” and “brooding”.

Secondly, it’s been a while since I threw a major curveball at the site, and the amount of gleaming, hyper-emotive clean-sung melody scattered liberally across the length and breadth of this record certainly makes it a bit different in that regard! Continue reading »

THE HOWLING WIND: “SHADOW TENTACLES”

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Aug 122019
 

 

(On August 5th The Howling Wind surprised us by dropping their latest album (this time the solo creation of Ryan Lipynsky), and Andy Synn gives it a review in this post.)

While it seemed like everyone else was either losing their minds last week over the release of a new Tool song, or bending over backwards to praise the new Slipknot record like it was the second coming, this particular writer was over in the corner giddy with excitement over the realisation that The Howling Wind had dropped their fifth album on Bandcamp without any warning or fanfare.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with liking either of the two former bands (while I think I’ve made my own feelings about the ‘knot more than clear, I’ll definitely be checking out the new Tool album once it’s actually released), but what I’m trying to point out is how easy it is for “the big fish” to monopolise all the online space and digital air so that there’s very little left for those (much, much) lower down the food chain.

Still, as you all know, we’re proud bottom-feeders here at NCS, and it’s our duty, and our privilege, to shine a light on some of the deepest and darkest corners of the Metal world to ensure that no stone remains unturned! Continue reading »

BEST OF BRITISH 2019: BA’AL / INGESTED / MAN MUST DIE

 Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET  No Responses »
Aug 092019
 

 

(Andy Synn breathes more life into this occasional series featuring reviews of new releases by UK bands, with reviews and streams of EPs by Ba’al, Lvcifyre, and Man Must Die.)

Chances are a bunch of our regular UK readers will be off in a field in Derbyshire this weekend attending Bloodstock Festival, and so probably won’t get to read this article.

But that’s ok, because one of the primary purposes behind this “Best of British” series is to introduce readers/listeners from other countries to some of our best home-grown musical exports.

So, in that spirit, please allow me to draw your attention to three of the best new (or new-ish) EPs from three of the UK’s best bands. Continue reading »

SWAMP WITCH: “DEAD RITUALS”

 Album Reviews  1 Response »
Aug 082019
 

 

(Andy Synn penned this review of the second album by Swamp Witch from Oakland, California, which was released in May of this year.)

Maybe it’s because of the weather recently – a mixture of blazing, oppressive heat and thunderous downpours – but I’ve been in a really doomy mood recently.

Just last week I went to see hideously heavy Doomcore pioneers Black Tongue (who were great, although the less said about the support acts the better), and prior to that I’d been fully immersed not only in the complete Krypts discography, but also getting my teeth into the upcoming new Crypt Sermon album too (more about that at a later date).

This past weekend however it was the grimy, gloom-shrouded stomp of Swamp Witch which really caught my attention, and so I felt it was high time I shared the good news (and gruesome grooves) with the rest of you. Continue reading »

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 111): KRYPTS

 THE SYNN REPORT  2 Responses »
Aug 022019
 

 

(In this July edition of THE SYNN REPORT, Andy Synn focuses on the albums released to date by the Finnish band Krypts, including a review of their most recent album, Cadaver Circulation, released this past May by Dark Descent Records.)

Recommended for fans of: Incantation, Desolate Shrine, Tomb Mold

Fearsome Finnish four-piece Krypts are one of the best bands in Death Metal right now.

As a matter of fact, in my humble opinion, their punishing blend of humongous, heaving riffs, putrid vocal vomit, and dread-inducing Doom is absolutely second to none, and looks to have achieved its ultimate apotheosis on the group’s latest, and greatest, album, Cadaver Circulation, a record which can honestly go toe-to-toe, round-for-round, with the very best of them.

That’s not to downplay the intensity or impact of their previous two releases though, as the band have always been consummate wielders of “the riff”, and have, likewise, always possessed a certain gift for songcraft which ensures that even their foulest metallic offerings are as virulently infectious as they are absolutely crushing. Continue reading »

CARNIFEX: “WORLD WAR X”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Jul 312019
 

 

(This is Andy Synn‘s review of the new seventh studio album by Carnifex, which will be released by Nuclear Blast on August 2nd.)

As a wise (albeit fictional) man once said, “with great power, comes great responsibility.”

And, as one of the biggest and most famous bands in all of Deathcore, it could be argued that Carnifex have a real responsibility to act as leaders and shepherds for the genre which they once helped pioneer.

The question, of course, is… do they want to? Continue reading »

BEST OF BRITISH 2019: CADAVER SOIRÉE / SIDIOUS / SŪRYA

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Jul 292019
 

 

(In a continuation of this occasional series, Andy Synn reviews three recent albums by bands from his homeland.)

Normally I’d write something amusing/annoying to provide a “fun” lead in to the following three albums.

However, a combination of work/band/life pressures means that, right at this moment, I don’t have any time to mess around like that.

So, without further ado, here’s a mix of Death, Black, and Post/Sludge from the UK for you all to enjoy. Continue reading »

BUSHWHACKER: “A FISTFUL OF POISON”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Jul 262019
 

 

(In this post Andy Synn reviews the new album by the Vancouver-based metal band Bushwhacker, which was released on July 19th.)

To a certain extent this business – the business of being a music writer/critic/blogger – is built on relationships. Relationships with bands, PR people, labels… and so on… which, if cultivated correctly, help to create a sustainable and mutually-beneficial ecosystem for everyone involved.

There are, of course, potential dark sides to these relationships.

Certain labels have been known to lean on smaller sites/zines by using the threat of removing their access to bump up the review scores or the amount of coverage given to their artists. Certain PR companies have been known to effectively “blacklist” certain writers or publications if they aren’t nice enough to the bands they’re representing. And certain critics have had their reputations questioned when it’s come to light that they’re perhaps a little more friendly with certain musicians than they originally let on.

It’s this last one which vexes me the most these days, and there are a few bands who I simply won’t review any more purely because, even if I trust myself to be as objective and impartial as possible, I don’t want there to be even a hint of impropriety or preferential treatment attached to my work.

But when Bushwhacker contacted us recently asking if we’d be willing to give their new record a listen, I simply couldn’t refuse. Not just because of the way in which they went about it – not directly asking for, or demanding, a review, but simply letting us know the music was out there if we were interested – but because it really is a damn fine album! Continue reading »

ALL OUT WAR – CRAWL AMONG THE FILTH

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
Jul 242019
 

(Andy Synn gets filthy with the new album from seminal Metal/Hardcore band All Out War)

As some of you may know, All Out War easily rank among my favourite bands of all time.

And I know I say that a lot – look, when you listen to a lot of bands you have a lot of favourites – but in this case I really mean it, as it was bands like All Out War, Ringworm, and Earth Crisis (and many more) who played a seminal role in defining my taste in Metal/Hardcore in the early days.

Which is why it’s crazy to think that this is the first time I’m writing about them for the site.

I’ll grant you that by the time I actually started writing for NCS they were once again on hiatus, and in the years to follow would only release one EP (and you know how terrible I am at keeping tabs on those… though I’m trying to do better) and an album which, to be honest, I’m not a massive fan of.

But, still, it feels weird to think that this is my first time properly reviewing the band… so I’d better make it count, right?

Continue reading »

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