SHADES OF BLACK: FAUSTIAN, VERZAUBER, ISHIMURA, VERTEBRAE, NECROBEAST, SVRM

 Album Reviews, SHADES OF BLACK  No Responses »
May 032026
 

(written by Islander)

As you can see, I have selected the music of six bands today, all of them coincidentally brandishing one-word names. I’m leading off with a group of singles from forthcoming records and concluding with a recently released EP that I think qualifies as “saving the best for last”.

In the case of those singles, I arranged them in a way that creates some musical connections (at least in my own head) between the opening pair and then a different kind of connection in another pair, with a ruinous barrage standing between the two groupings.

I’ll also take this opportunity to inform visitors that the coming week at NCS will create a bit of a break. Beginning on Wednesday I and my old friends Andy Synn and DGR will be in Seattle working on Northwest Terror Fest (they will be doing a lot of heavy lifting while I provide essential supervision and autographs). Continue reading »

SHORT BUT SWEET: ISHIMURA — TRANSITION: VOL. 1

 Album Reviews, SHORT BUT SWEET  3 Responses »
Jun 052014
 

(Andy Synn reviews the new EP by Ishimura.)

I’m mainly reviewing EPs this week it seems. You’ve probably already seen my write-up of the new De Profundis EP, and although I am working on a full-length album review it’s not going to be published until Monday. So in the meantime here’s a quick look at another short-but-sweet little number, with (fingers crossed) another one to follow tomorrow.

Now there’s actually two bands named Ishimura out there at the moment — a nasty Black/Death/Noise hybrid from Mississippi, USA, and a Progressive/Post- Metal group from Kaliningrad, Russia. And if the above image didn’t clue you in to which one I’m covering here today, let me clear it up – it’s the Russian one. Apologies to all the kvltists and grindwhores I may have disappointed.

Now although this Ishimura veer most closely to the Isis style of Post-Metal (something they freely admit to), they’ve managed to integrate some very interesting ideas and a wealth of their own identity into the mix in the process. Over the course of the EP’s three expansive tracks they flirt with a number of progressive touches, weaving in threads of fluttering electronica and unexpected, esoteric instrumentation amidst waves of shimmering sound and sweeping metallic ambience. Continue reading »