AN NCS PREMIERE: BLACK CILICE — “INTO THE INNER TEMPLE”

 Premieres  No Responses »
Apr 022026
 

(written by Islander)

In contemplating the discography of the Portuguese black metal band Black Cilice, the word “prolific” leaps to mind. Beginning with their first five(!) demos released in 2009, they’ve released something almost ever year — more demos, many splits, a trio of EPs, and six albums. Now there’s a seventh album on the horizon, slated for release by Iron Bonehead Productions on May 1st.

The album’s name is Votive Fire. It includes only four songs, but they are long ones, none shorter than seven minutes and the opener almost reaching 10 1/2. What we have for you today is the third of these tracks in the running order, “Into the Inner Temple“. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD ON A SATURDAY: GLOSON, BLACK CILICE, UNDER THE CHURCH, FLESH OF ONCE DEMENTED, CREATURE, DECAYING

 Album Reviews, Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  4 Responses »
Oct 092021
 

 

I hope you’re having a good weekend already, and I hope what I’ve chosen for this round-up of new songs and videos will make it even better. As usual, I had a lot to choose from based on discoveries from the past week. I thought about resorting to another “Overflowing Streams” deluge to get more of them in front of you, but decided instead to exercise a rare bit of discipline.

In making these choices I was influenced by previous knowledge about the music of five of these bands (all of whom are personal favorites) and knowledge about the past work of one of the creators, even though he’s creating under a new guise.

GLOSON (Sweden)

The first track here, “Impetus“, is a massive and unearthly song, one that takes a sledgehammer to your spine and claws at your mind. The central riff abrasively roils and darts; the ritualized drum rhythms go off like bunker-busting bombs; the yells and roars are harrowing. The song twists the tension dial, becomes sweeping, and then boils and pounds, the intensity unrelenting. You best get ready to flex your neck too.

The accompanying video made by Ulf Blomberg is as dark and unnerving as the music, but you can’t take your eyes off it. Continue reading »

SHADES OF BLACK: DEADSPACE, MUR, BLACK CILICE, R.N.V.

 SHADES OF BLACK  8 Responses »
Jun 302019
 

 

Man, I have so much new black metal to write about this week (like what else is new?), but not enough time to write about all of it (that’s not new either), in part because of the time I spent on a rare Sunday premiere (which you really should go listen to if you haven’t already), though it’s a shade of black too.

Despite the temptations, I know better than to call this post Part 1. We know what the Scottish bard said about best-laid plans. Better to just see what happens, better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed by another broken promise.

DEADSPACE

When the first song in this collection appeared last week my friend Mr. Synn quipped on FB: “Like Nachtmystium but worried that by doing so you’re in danger of having your canoe stolen and sold for drug money? Well, worry no longer!” Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD: LOIMANN, VHOLDGHAST, ITHAQUA, BLACK CILICE

 Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  5 Responses »
Jan 032015
 

 

Here’s a collection of new songs I came upon over the last 24 hours. It’s not happy music, but it make me happy.

LOIMANN

Loimann are from Torino in the Piemonte region of Italy. They released a debut album in 2010 named Towards Higher Consciousness, and their second full-length — Drowning Merged Tantras — will soon be released on CD by Behold the Ruins Records. I was drawn to it by the cover art (above), created by one of my favorite metal artists, Costin Chioreanu.

I’ve been making my way through the album as a whole (with thanks to Loimann for the opportunity), and I’m really enthralled by what they’ve accomplished. I’m unable to write as many album reviews as I would like, so I at least want to encourage you to listen to the two songs from the album that are now publicly available — “Haeresis” and “Tantras… Drowned”. Continue reading »