CATTLE DECAPITATION, ABORTED, FROZEN SOUL, TRIBAL GAZE — NOV. 25, 2025 — THE ORPHEUM, TAMPA, FL

 Concert Reviews  2 Responses »
Dec 042025
 

(Our contributor Daniel Barkasi was lucky enough to catch the Tampa stop of Cattle Decapitation’s still-ongoing No Fear For Tomorrow North American Tour, with support from Aborted, Frozen Soul, and Tribal Gaze, and he sent us the following enthusiastic report, accompanied by terrific photos made by Brittany Barkasi @Turn off the Thunder.)

To say that we’re supporters of Cattle Decapitation could be the understatement of the day. Having followed this band ever since hearing Homovore 25 years ago – how is it that long – it’s been a constant evolution for the death/grinders with the ironic name. For these ears, The Harvest Floor displayed a bit that was really on to something special, which was fully realized with Monolith of Inhumanity, at this point not being solely a grindcore act, but a homogenization of the best elements of that style smashed together with roaring, energetic death metal.

From there, the band has been on a steady trajectory of phenomenal records, whose subject matter has also gotten bleaker in their vision of the human condition. Each album since the aforementioned Monolith has given added flavor to their already signature sound, with 2019’s Death Atlas being a personal standout – a well-assembled record that digests best as a whole, whilst being more poignant than the band could have imagined, considering what was about to happen with the dreaded COVID times.

With this tour, the band are playing Death Atlas in full, so if we couldn’t have already been more excited for another romp through the slaughterhouse, anticipation was at a fever pitch. Bringing along a notably weighty trio of Aborted, Frozen Soul, and Tribal Gaze along for the ride, an unabashedly crushing of an evening was set. Continue reading »

OFERMOD: “DRAKOSOPHIA”

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
Nov 242025
 

(We present Daniel Barkasi’s review of a new album from the Swedish black metal band Ofermod, which was released on October 3rd by Shadow Records.)

Good old-fashioned, second wave, ritualistic, riff-centric black metal is a distinct sort of flavor profile that admittedly has been done many times; a particular sound that represents a sort of comfort zone to these ears. Those who purvey that sound were my gateway into a much larger and diverse universe of black metal, and when that feeling is captured and executed precisely, we’re all in. Enter Ofermod, the vehicle of the enigmatic Belfagor, who has cycled through a fair number of members throughout the years – especially vocalists. Through it all, however, the style has stayed remarkably consistent; a testament to Belfagor’s focused vision.

Albums such as Sol Nox and Mysterium Iniquitatis serve as the best examples of what Ofermod have to offer up to now, both being albums that are recalled when seeking this archetype of black metal. Now we have Drakosophia, with a new vocalist in tow in Adeptus (who is now a former member – more on that later), and the resultant is familiar and wholly satisfying. Continue reading »

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XXII: A BUSY WINTER IS COMING

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Nov 142025
 

(Daniel Barkasi is back with us today, presenting a collection of reviews for a variety of recommended albums released in October 2025.)

As winter approaches – it was 35 F this morning in Florida – and living amongst a sea of boxes and plastic tubs (move prep and all that), the madness for myself and our very large family of animals intensifies. A move with a farm filled with creatures is a challenge that I for one cannot wait to be done, and while we’re chipping away at it, it’s going to take a bit more time. Not in a massive rush, however, so we move forward without panic. With that, the current cooler weather in Florida has been a joy – typically chilly enough for a light hoodie in the evening, and never breaking a sweat by simply opening the house door.

The fall touring season is in full swing, with the next couple of weeks filled with so many shows that there’s no way we’ll be able to do all the ones we’d like. We did, however, just take in Ulcerate and Spirit Possession, which was a flawless evening by two exceptional acts. It certainly brought me back to June and Fortress Festival, where both performed phenomenal sets in what was an incredible experience. It was cool to see Ulcerate headline and add a few additional tracks; this being the first time we’ve seen them here in the US in 9 years, which was last at the legendary Brass Mug with Zhrine and Phobocosm. Continue reading »

SELFGOD: “LEFT HAND PAGAN”

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Nov 042025
 

(We present Daniel Barkasi’s review of a new album by Pittsburgh-based Selfgod that was released by Veles Records on October 31st.)

Selfgod’s Serge Streltsov (ex-Necrophagia, ex-Automb) has been busy since the release of debut album Born of Death back in February of 2022, with multiple tours under their belt (one that included a stop at our current location of Tampa at the famous Brass Mug), and timing-wise, the band’s next step felt imminent. There were some rumblings, but nothing concrete, until now. Sure enough, the second full-length Left Hand Pagan was announced in mid-October for a quickly approaching Halloween release, this time by way of his own newly formed label, Veles Records. 

To the uninitiated, Selfgod conjures a technical, riff-driven sort of death metal that dabbles in the occasional black metal aesthetic. Think Hate, God Dethroned, Azarath – that sort of approach, coupled with a Pagan thematic presence, which is emphasized further by the new record’s title. As an aside, we explored Streltsov’s personal beliefs and close connection with his home country of Ukraine in an interview we did here at NCS a few years ago, and they’re front and center with this release, which sadly was marked by a personal tragedy for Streltsov during the lead-up (more on that later). Continue reading »

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XXI: HALLOWEEN & CHILLING RIFFS

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Oct 212025
 

(Daniel Barkasi is back with another monthly collection of carefully chosen obscurities, providing vivid and enthusiastic reviews of six fine albums released in September of this year.)

As I begin to write this in an airport, heading to Pittsburgh on a shockingly delayed flight – helping out the folks with a few things, seeing a great friend who has struggled with some awful health issues (love you, Darren), and the Under Appalachian Skies festival (which has concluded by the time you read this, and it was an incredible time) — it’s dawned on me how wild of a year it’s been, yet it’s gone by so damn fast. Hope everyone is hanging in there best you can!

I wanted to also give my deepest appreciation to those who gave their condolences for our dog Kaiya last month. Those kind words went a long way, and it meant a lot.

Halloween is rapidly approaching, and it’s the season of Reese’s peanut butter pumpkins and good horror flicks. If anyone has any good suggestions, I’m all ears! There’s a ton of Korean films and series that I want to check out, as some of the best productions are coming from there, and have for some time. We also went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando recently and had a blast! If anyone ever finds themselves in the swamp at this time of year, it’s definitely worth your time. Continue reading »

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XX: CHANGES, TEMPERATURES, AND RIFFS

 Album Reviews  4 Responses »
Sep 152025
 

(Daniel Barkasi returns with his monthly collection of album reviews, this time recommending six albums released in August 2025.)

As summer nears its conclusion, the heat has finally (sort of) calmed down a little in the Floridian swamp. It’s about damn time. The dogs can finally be taken outside and we’re not a dripping puddle of sweat in 1.2 seconds. More like 10 minutes, which is an improvement that’s most welcome!

On a sad personal note, my wife and I lost our precious dog Kaiya last week. It wasn’t completely unexpected – she had just turned 17 and had some worsening health issues – and her body just couldn’t keep going. We had a hell of a 17th birthday bash only a few days prior, but she sadly plummeted quickly not long after.

My wife had her for literally half of my wife’s life, and I had the distinct pleasure of having her in my life for over a decade. She was the best girl – sweet as can be, loving, gentle, and quirky in the best ways. It’s still hard for me to write this, as I miss her terribly and it’ll be fresh for a while. One of our other dogs, Hiroki, has taken it especially hard, as they were incredibly close. He seems to be on the mend, thankfully, as he sits next to me. Continue reading »

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XVII: SORE FEET AND MORE METAL

 Metal News  No Responses »
Jul 032025
 

(Still recovering from recent festival experiences but still carrying on, Daniel Barkasi brings us reviews of six strongly recommended albums released in May 2025.)

Yeah, I know, this column is late – very late. My review(s) and photos (Day 1 and Day 2) of Fortress Festival took my full attention since returning, and coupled with a lot of day job and farm stuff, because we basically have a farm at this point, have gone hand-in-hand with catching up on May releases. I need to actually absorb an album and fully grasp the nitty gritty details to come to a fair conclusion, so this also wasn’t going to be rushed. I go full bore into everything, or else I’m not going to do it. Most who routinely immerse themselves into this sort of music aren’t the casual types, and I don’t think I’ve been casual about a whole lot in my existence.

Therefore, here we are, and my feet are screaming; thanks, plantar fasciitis and metal festivals. We’d do it all again, of course. Continue reading »

FORTRESS FESTIVAL 2025 PREVIEW

 Metal News  2 Responses »
May 222025
 

(Near the end of this month our Floridian scribe Daniel Barkasi will be making his first trip to England, and his first venture into Fortress Festival. We look forward to his report, and what follows is his explanation of why he’s very excited to go.)

Spring is upon us, and soon enough summer will come searing in with its blazing hot temperatures and allergens abounding. My sinuses are crying with anticipation. But this time of year does bring something us connoisseurs of heavy music no doubt look forward to – festival season! With the very special to us at NCS’ blackened hearts Northwest Terror Fest just wrapping up, and the mighty Maryland Deathfest on the horizon, we’re actually mainly looking toward escaping to a seaside town in North Yorkshire, England.

What’s there, you ask? Normally known for its picturesque views, the odd beach, and a 12th century castle, the town of Scarborough will again be host to an event that’s a bit more on our level. We’re talking about the mighty Fortress Festival, now in its third iteration, happening at the Scarborough Spa, from May 31 – June 1. Continue reading »

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XVI: SEASON OF PARKS AND FESTIVALS

 Album Reviews  1 Response »
May 202025
 

(Here we have another monthly column of Daniel Barkasi‘s vivid reviews, this time focusing on six highly recommended albums released in April 2025.)

Sometimes, you need to savor the weird pastimes that make life grand. One of those things for me that I haven’t touched upon much in this space is theme parks. Ah, I love a good theme park. Disney does it best, and having been to every Disney park on the planet, we’re a tad invested – both emotionally and financially. No park is better than Tokyo DisneySea, and it’s not particularly close.

Recently, however, we attended a preview of the brand new Universal Epic Universe with KevinP (another theme park connoisseur) before it officially opens to the public on May 22. Everything wasn’t operational, as it’s in a testing phase, but what we experienced was pretty fantastic. We’ll be going again one more time before opening day, and hopefully we’ll get to do everything that we didn’t get to the first time. If you find yourself in the sweaty hellhole that is Orlando, I’d suggest giving it a whirl – especially fans of Universal Monsters and Frankenstein. That land – or “portal” as they’re calling it – is worth the price of admission itself.

More akin to the music subject, this time of year brings festival time. NCS’s beloved Northwest Terror Fest just wrapped up and looks like it was an amazing time. One of these years, I’ll make it out. We’ll be attending Maryland Deathfest, per tradition. Hopefully plenty of readers will be descending upon Baltimore, and if that’s you, don’t be shy and say hello! One of the best things about festivals is the awesome people, and we’re looking forward to seeing plenty of friends and making new ones. If you can make it out to a festival this year, definitely do so.

Whether or not a festival is in the cards, April was bountiful with new releases well worth your time. We could list well over ten that we really enjoyed, and we’d still feel like something is getting unjustly left out. We’ve got six slots, however, so kick back with me and slap on your best headphones. Continue reading »

LISTMANIA 2024: “25 FOR 24!” BY DANIEL BARKASI

 LISTMANIA 2024  8 Responses »
Dec 272024
 

(We present NCS writer Daniel Barkasi‘s year-end list of his favorite albums released in 2024 — a ranked list of 25.)

We’re at the end of another romp around the calendar. Yes, we survived! If not, how would you be reading this slop? Mind melding, perhaps? I probably didn’t listen to enough math/prog for Mr. Spock’s logical, technical tastes. Or maybe he does enjoy a dose of pure, unfettered violence once in a while?

We’re definitely not in the age of Starfleet, especially considering the state of this planet. I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time complaining about how it’s been a long year – we indulge plenty in my Obscurities column – so let’s keep that to a minimum here. We moved, went through a pair of catastrophic hurricanes (fuck Florida, seriously), the US proved that it’s collectively braindead, are we’re planning another move for next year. But, in positive news, we rescued another kitten! Her name’s Mabel, and we’re so glad to have her amongst our horde of nine other cats, three dogs, two horses, a bunch of snakes and spiders, and a partridge in a palm tree.

The end of another year is typically a time for reflection, spending time with those you care about, doing fun stuff. We’ve gone to Disney World a lot recently. For many, though, it’s a difficult and lonely time. I’m sure we all know somebody struggling, going through difficult times, fighting health issues. A very good friend right now is going through quite an ordeal, so if you’re reading – you probably will at some point – all the love to you, Darren. Try to lend a friendly ear to folks if you can, and be there for those who need it most. Continue reading »