OBSCURITIES – VOLUME XXII: A BUSY WINTER IS COMING

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
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 »

AN NCS PREMIERE: HETEROPSY — “MEMENTO MORI”

 Premieres  1 Response »
Sep 302025
 

(written by Islander)

After four EPs and a split since their formation in 2020, the Japanese death metal band Heteropsy will make their full-length debut with Embalming, an album set for release on October 31st by Caligari Records. The music is described on behalf of the label as a “mix of old-school Swedish death, melancholic vibes, and soulful edge” — death metal first and foremost but (in Heteropsy‘s words) with “vague madness and sadness.”

Further clues to what lies within can be found in the band’s identification of their influences as “sometimes” Dismember, Autopsy, Rippikoulu, Switzerland’s Sadness, and Sweden’s Naglfar: “We mixed our favorite death metal sounds, simmered them, sharpened them, stripped them bare, and then converted them into SAMURAI SWORD.”

The influences are indeed decipherable in the music, but make no mistake, Heteropsy‘s music isn’t some kind of paint-by-numbers copy. Rather than displaying rote fealty to death metal from an old age, they’ve created songs that manage to surprise as well as crush and slaughter. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD ON A SATURDAY: NO RAZA, EGOCIDE, THEMATA, VILE APPARITION, VÍGLJÓS, JUNEAU, WSTRĘT, HETEROPSY

 Album Reviews, Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC, SHORT BUT SWEET  No Responses »
Aug 302025
 

(written by Islander)

This Saturday roundup is larger than usual — one new music video, seven songs from records due for release over the next couple of months, and an EP released a week ago.

Once again, I fell down a rabbit hole of high-powered musical intensity expressed in differing ways, from brutal and bludgeoning to mind-lacerating. I’m also going to give myself a pat on the back (because you’re too far away to do it) for arranging the songs in a way that I think provides a coherent flow (flow really isn’t the right word for the movements from song to song, but I haven’t thought of a better one).

P.S. In the U.S. this is Labor Day Weekend, a three-day break from work for a lot of people (but not everyone). As is our habit around here, we’re not taking a break. As usual for us during holidays, we’re just going to ignore this one and continue fouling the airwaves straight through Monday. Of course we hope you’ll come back to see what we have in store tomorrow and the next day, but even if you aren’t here we will be. Continue reading »