Well, here we are. The blessed day has arrived. NO CLEAN SINGING is five years old today. We made our first post on November 21, 2009.
As a five year-old, we still poop our pants, scream at the top of our lungs for no good reason, have a growing fascination with what’s between our legs, and throw our food against the wall because, fuck, you only have a brief time when you can get away with shit like that.
Last year at this time I wrote that there’s a word for metal blogs who are still around as long as we’ve been: They’re called “survivors”. “Stubborn” and “too dumb to quit” are still good alternative labels. I can’t promise you we’ll be here this time next year — because no one can count on being around for another year. So we rejoice in the fact that we’re still here, as you should, too — you have also survived another year.
For yet another year, I’ve been very lucky to work with the four dudes who have labored with me the longest to help keep the site going and growing. Once again, I’m going to identify their first appearances at NCS:
Andy Synn’s first post was a review of Dimmu Borgir’s Abrahadabra on September 23, 2010. BadWolf’s first post came on November 15, 2010 — a review of Terraphobic by Dagon. TheMadIsraeli made his debut with a review of The Interbeing’s debut album Edge of the Obscure, published on May 11, 2011. And DGR’s first post was a series of year-end lists on December 28, 2011.
I’m still proud to call all of these guys friends as well as colleagues, and I’m so grateful they’ve hung in there with me.
I’m also grateful to two other dudes who have stepped up in a big way this year — Austin Weber, who has become a regular writer, and Leperkahn, who took over round-up duties for me during a stretch of time when I was determined to catch up on reviews. I also want to thank KevinP and Comrade Aleks for the wonderful interviews they’ve regularly contributed this year.
We’ve also benefitted from a lot of other guest writers this past year, including some people from whom I’m expecting more goodies in the future, and I thank them, too.
These anniversaries are also fitting occasions to thank the people who fuel what we do here. First, we are grateful to all of you who choose to spend part of your day with us, with an extra measure of thanks to those who interact with us through the comments on our posts. As much fun as it is for all of the writers to blather on about this and that, I suspect we’d stop in a heartbeat if no one cared. Knowing that people get something out of what we’re doing is what keeps this place going. It sure as hell ain’t the money — of which there is none.
And of course, we thank all the metal bands (and visual artists) out there who have made our lives so much richer because of their creativity and talent. Supporting music we care about and doing what we can to spread it around is the site’s main mission.
And now for some statistics that will bore the shit out of you leave you breathless. Since we launched NCS five years ago, we’ve published 5,541 posts, including this one. We’ve posted something every single day since the site began, except for three, when I was laid low by hangovers so cataclysmic that even touching the keyboard was painful. At this writing, we’ve received 51,780 comments since the beginning, only about half of which are mine.
According to Google Analytics, we’ve had 564,597 unique visitors over the last year from all over the world, which is about 86,000 more than we had the year before, and since this time last year we’ve had 1,698,943 page views, which is about 278,000 more than we had the year before.
As another measure of our support, the “likes” for our Facebook page have grown from 5,848 a year ago to 11,943 as of last night (which is when I wrote this post). That’s an impressive increase, and it now leaves us only 79,788,602 short of the FB page for Michael Jackson, who has been dead for five months longer than our site has been alive.
We’ve actually lost ground on The King since this time last year, despite the fact that his corpse has reached an even more advanced state of decay. I like to think we’re pretty putrid already, but we’re clearly going to have to bathe less often and start drinking formaldehyde if we have any hope of catching up.
And here’s one final Google Analytics statistic I found particularly interesting: Over the last year, less than half of the visits to our U.S.-based site have come from people in the U.S. — 41.6%.
5.87% have come from the UK and 5.49% from Canada — and the balance of 47% has come from more than 100 other countries around the world. I think that’s cool.
As we begin our sixth year, we’ll continue doing our best to entertain, to inform, and to support metal and the community of people devoted to it. To all of you who are reading this, other than the process servers who are trying to find me, here’s hoping we’re all together this time next year — and don’t let the bastards get you down.
– Islander
88 Responses to “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!”
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I know my life would be very different without this site.
Take that how you will…
I’m going to take it that your life would not be worth living without this site.
That is certainly one way to take it, I’ll grant you that.
The gold standard of metal blogs. Long may you reign (in blood).
Thank you for that high praise brother.
Congrats!
I still rock my “Fucking Good Pancake Tour” shirt, just for you guys.
That’s true dedication, given what an ugly and offensive (albeit hilarious) shirt that it. I really need to get off my ass and make plans for a new shirt. But I’ve been saying that for about 2 years.
Glad to still see you guys are going strong! Keep up the fantastic work you are doing for the metal community!!!
Thanks or your support.
Byaaaah!
As PIK said above, NCS is far and away the gold standard. Put up against any other metal blog, NCS takes the cake. Islander is the realest dude in the game, keeping things #trill no matter what. Many thanks for everything you’ve done so far. Happy anniversary, and may many more be in your future.
I very much appreciate your kind words (I still hope you’ll choose to write again here someday, but I still benefit from stalking your music recommendations on FB).
Well happy goddamn birthday to ya’s!
This is my favorite place to visit. I like everyone, posters and commenters.
I’d love to toss back a beer or just headbang one day at a show with each and every one of you.
The feeling is mutual. Thanks for hanging in there with us.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stick around! You guys always provide new groups for me to look into that other blogs (metal sucks, HBIH) wont touch!
THAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!
Happy birthday NCS!
I discovered so many great bands thanks to your blog. Hope you’ll go on as long as possible!
All the best from Switzerland
Greetings to Switzerland. We plan to keep rocking as long as possible.
Awesome ! Keep up the great work ! and THANK YOU .
You’re welcome — and thanks for your support.
Happy birthday No Clean Singing, I want to let you know this is my favorite site to visit, this is my fourth year as a daily reader and listener and I have to say that you guys rule, in all that you done so far, what you do for the entire metal community and the quality of the reviews as the music that you share, so, we are going towards your sixth year of existence, this is exciting, I’m ready for the 2015 in metal with “NCS” and enjoy your cake, or rivers of beers, whatever, have a good time!
Wow — four years! That’s very cool. I’d be curious how many have been with us consistently for that long. Thanks very much for your loyalty.
You’re welcome, because of my tastes in music, especially Black Metal and Death Metal, No Clean Singing is a landmark to me, congratulations and keep it up!
Thank-you to all who have contributed to this site over the years and thereby helped enrich my life. NCS stands atop all others and I know I’ll still be around when (no ifs, dammit!) you turn 6six6. \m/
Thank you man.
Thanks for keeping the funeral pyre burning, and thanks Islander for allowing me to contribute over this past year.
We’ve had to throw urine-filled water balloons at the firemen to keep them back, but the flames burn on. Thank you.
Wait…There are OTHER metal blogs?!?! 😉
Seriously though, if I go more than a day without checking in I start the shaking and sweats. Really, head jerks to the side randomly and all that. Yelling randomly and at no one in particular “don’t judge me, I can stop whenever I want”.
Happy Birthday NCS and thank you all who contribute. Reading what all of you post is definitely one of the highlights of my day.
LOL. Thanks for the great birthday wishes.
Fourteenth!
Oh, and happy birthday! ;-] Keep up the amazing work. Here’s to the next five years. *raises glass*
*raises glass in return (even though only water in it at 9:45 a.m.* Thanks for all the nice music tips this year.
The best site there is.
I’m blushing (it’s not a pretty sight) — thank you.
Congratulations on this momentous occasion. 5 years may as well be a life time on the internet (look at the rise and fall in popularity of Myspace for example), so I am very glad to see that you guys are still going strong.
“- you have also survived another year-“ How very fitting….additionally, I am happy to report that I have just recently completed my tour of duty to Afghanistan and have returned to home station and to friends & family safely. Over the past decade overseas, I have relied heavily upon the interwebs to stay abreast of current culture and community happenings, and NCS has been a vital link in that chain. I cant tell you how much I appreciate the particularly insightful form of daily fuckery that you and your band of misfits have wrought. Thanks for everything, keep up the metal, Peace.
I’m so glad you’re back safe and sound! Honestly, though I wouldn’t say it, every time I’ve seen one of your comments over the years I’ve breathed a sigh of relief. And it means a lot to know that we’ve provided a welcome distraction to you and a link in the chain. All the best to you and your loved ones.
Great to hear Vyce, for what it’s worth, I’ve enjoyed your contributions on here. A decade overseas is a long time.
Congratulations on another year..always fun to look back and see how far this site has come in such a short time
Thanks, as always, for your comments, your music recommendations, and your posts for the site. Looking forward to seeing your year-end list.
Oh man..so much music came out this year. That list is going to require copious amounts of alcohol before Im done
That’s usually what I do when I have a difficult task ahead of me. I can’t say it always works out very well, but I sure feel smarter at the time.
I’ve said this before, a more than well-trodden path some would say, but after more than two years of more-or-less daily visits, the point stays: NCS is the best.
So allow me to congratulate us with this landmark, and let us look forward to another awesome year’s end with the Listmania series. That we may live and prosper to see NCS’s first centennial!
My salutations from the Netherlands!
Salutations to you as well, and gratitude for your kind words, your comments, and your excellent musical recommendations.
Happy birthday dudes. There’s a reason you’ve made it this far: black magick. Also, because the site is great.
Don’t forget the infant sacrifices. I think that has helped too.
FUCK MY LUNCH BREAK AT WORK! NO CLEAN SINGING FOR LIFE. ALL RAISE YOUR HORNS AND HAIL.
SRS THO WRITING HERE IS THE SMARTEST THING I EVER DID.
“…and it changed my life!”
Aw shucks. Couldn’t be happier that our paths crossed so many years ago and have stayed intertwined since then.
Happy Birthday, and thank you for not only providing the only music hub I need to frequent, but for also providing a platform for me to vomit forth my own garbled filth that passes for writing. As BadWolf said above, definitely one of the better decisions I’ve made in my 19 years on Earth.
Also, sorry if this sounds all formal and what-not, but I’m writing this as a study break/procrastination of a paper that’s due tonight, and thus I’m still stuck in academic voice. Hopefully this isn’t a permanent condition.
19? God I hate you.
As of a couple of weeks ago, yes. Before Surgical Steel and At War with Reality, At the Gates and Carcass hadn’t released albums in my lifetime (though I was in the womb when they last released albums).
Yeah. That’s not helping your case.
Wasn’t necessarily trying to help my case… 🙂
Thanks man — it has been a pleasure getting to know you and to read your writing, of which I hope we’ll see more as time permits.
Still the best site going! Thank all you guys for your contribution to metal. I look forward to new content on NCS daily, even after all these years. Keep it coming!
So glad to see you here. You’ve been with us for such a long time, and it does my heart good to know you’re still out there. I hope you’re doing well, and also, GOATWHORE.
I’m doing well. My business has picked up post-recession and left me little time, thus my absence from the comments, but the bills are getting paid. I am and will be out here keeping up with you guys, hopefully for many more years!
And….GOATWHORE!!!
Congratulations guys! I must admit I was a late comer to the site but now it’s in my regular rotation. Thanks for being so on top of everything in the metal world and for all the constant postings. It’s refreshing to find a site which has fresh and interesting content every day. Over the past year or so I’ve been coming here you guys have given me the heads-up on many killer bands and albums I may not have found otherwise. Keep up the good work. All the best from Australia.
Hails to Australia. Really glad you’ve found us worth your time and hope you’ll continue to find us worthwhile as we enter our sixth year.
Happy birthday! I don’t post all that frequently anymore these days, but know that I’ve been with you guys for 3 years now, and not a day goes by without me checking this site. Keep up the excellent work, for as long as (in)humanly possible! 🙂
Yet another name I recognize going back to older days — it’s great to see it again. Thanks for staying with us.
Congratulations NCS, by far the best metal website i on the web. But just for the quality content, but for the warm and pleasant feel of the comment section. All hail the roadcrew.
Hail to you as well, with thanks for all your comments and support.
Gah! I am late as usual. Letting me write occasionally for the site has been an honor for me. Many thanks for that and and infinite amount of them for your success over the last 5 years.
And props for one of the best and probably the best, comment sections in a metal website.
Dude, thanks for your contributions to our site, which are always welcome, and for everything else you do to support metal. I hope we’ll see more of your work in our sixth year.
Thank you Islander. I’m definitely coming up with a lot more of it and hopefully do so with NCS for many more years.
Woohoo. Happy birthday NCS. Although I haven’t been around here as much this year, it’s all due to crazy life circumstances; I would love to peruse every post on a daily basis. Many thanks again to the crew for keeping up such as stellar pace of posting and exposing me to such aural goodness.
Booker, thanks for the good wishes. You are always welcome here, and I hope I can talk you into writing again as we move forward.
When the muse strikes me, I’ll bend over and let her strike me good and hard, spank me silly, and whatever comes of this sordid inspiration I’ll throw your way ;)….. deal, or no deal?
Deal, as long as you don’t send photos of the spanking.
Hand drawn pictures then? 😉
Happy Birthday, No Clean Singing!!! : )
Thank you! You have been such an incredibly loyal supporter, commenting on just about everything we post that you enjoy. I notice, and am very grateful.
well birthdays of fucking happiness!
Thank you. I think you know how much I appreciate your years of interest in what we’ve been doing, and your music, and your friendship. Hope all is well.
Love this blog, been reading every day for around 3 years now. You’ve been the doorway to a lot of great metal for me! Also pretty much the only blog I read that actually talked about Cormorant’s Earth Diver album from this year…thanks for that haha. STAY METAL!
Cormorant’s Earth Diver really has been strangely neglected, and I don’t understand why. Thank you for being a daily reader for such a long time.
Not by me it hasn’t! It will be appearing quite prominently in my End of Year lists, I’ll tell you now.
This is only my first year on this site but I have found more awesome underground music due to this site just in this one year than I have my entire life. Seriously. I love this site to death, keep up the awesome work and happy belated birthday fellas!
HAIL METAL! \m/
I really appreciate your taking time to leave the comment. No bullshit — the comments in this thread make me and the other writers feel incredibly good and give us the motivation to continue throwing ourselves into this with renewed energy.
I’m late – but, Happy 5!!! This is one of my favorite stompin’ grounds, not just for the killer music, but the great and peaceful way the fanaticism is executed. Hails! \m/
Thank you. I appreciate your recognizing the tone we have tried to set around here since the beginning, a mission in which we have been greatly aided by the people who have participated in our Comment sections over the years, making it a remarkably troll-free zone.
Means a lot to me, as a reader and a fan. This day and age of people claiming to be genuine metalheads is kinda sad and disappointing to nostalgic mid-30s guys like me! haha So thanks again, and props for replying to everyone here, as well. It’s true, the tone set around here is awesome. \m/
…in retrospect of my comment I see that I need to add that I’m talking about the trolls you’re talking about, by the way. 😉
Well, I guess it’s too late to shove it back in the Interweb uterus…
(Congratulations and good job, if I must say it.)
Awww, so sweet. Thank you for stopping by; however, we were not excreted from a uterus.
So sorry I’m late to the party, I was without Interwebs for a few days (I suspect it was all Taylor Swift’s plan to prevent me to be the first one to wish Happy Birthday to NCS). But, better late than never. So, Happy Birthday NCS, life wouldn’t be the same without you!
(And now I have a lot of catchin’ up…)
Taylor Swift has been a thorn in our side for years. Hail to you for overcoming her nefarious plans.
Happy birthday, NCS ! I think you’re doing a great job, in the beginning I was visiting your blog like once every week, now it’s every day 🙂 Greetings from Belgium !