Andy Synn Archives - NO CLEAN SINGING

UULLIATA DIGIR – UULLIATA DIGIR

Jan 162025

(Andy Synn embraces the chaos and catharsis of Poland’s Uulliata Digir)

It was just last week when I commented that 2025 seemed to be off to a bit of a slow start – usually I’ve encountered at least one new favourite by now – but, wouldn’t you know it, it looks like I spoke too soon!

Bursting out of the blocks with the sort of wilfully unorthodox, genre-blending sound – grounded in the harshness and heaviness of Black and Death Metal, but equally influenced by dark Jazz and doomy drone, while also incorporating passages of post-metallic ambience and abrasively sludgy atmosphere – which defies easy categorisation (“Avant-Garde Extremity” is probably the best way to describe it) the self-titled debut from Uulliata Digir has quickly established itself as probably the best thing I’ve heard so far this year.

And, because of that, I felt like I needed to share it with all of you.

RUDRA – ANTITHESIS

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Jan 152025

(Andy Synn meditates upon the new album from Rudra)

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the role of so-called “AI” is going to play in our lives going forwards, particularly in regards to algorithmically-generated “art”.

And while a lot of the discussion has – understandably and correctly – focussed on the fact that, by their very nature, these generative learning models are incapable of producing anything truly original (with equally valid questions remaining about just how much of what they’re fed on is plagiarised from actual, existing artists), I think a deeper, but no less salient, point tends to be overlooked.

After all, “originality” is not the sole arbiter of great art (we are all the sum of our influences, after all) and there’s a reason that entire movements – genres of music, schools of painting, styles of literature, etc – have taken shape over the years, as the purpose of these “forms” is to allow the artists to express themselves.

That, my friends, is what’s really missing from the debate… an acknowledgement that the purpose of art is not simply to create a “thing” but to communicate, to share something of the artist that can’t be expressed any other way, and that without that soul, that self, on the other end there’s nothing beneath it all. It’s inherently hollow.

And while Rudra‘s eleventh(!) album, Antithesis, certainly doesn’t attempt to break the mould or reinvent the wheel, there’s no doubt that they’ve poured their hearts and souls, and every ounce of their passion, into it.

ANDY SYNN’S MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2025

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Jan 132025

(Andy Synn looks ahead to what we might expect from 2025)

Is it just me or does 2025 seem to be off to a bit of a slow start?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve already written about a couple of gems (Am I In Trouble?, MEM//BRANE) and I’ve got my eyes on a few upcoming releases (including one which, having heard it in full, is probably destined for my “Disappointing” list) but, for the most part, it feels like 2025 has yet to properly kick into gear.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, since it gives us a bit more time to get our shit together and start planning out the year to come… which in this case means highlighting some of the albums which I really hope make an appearance, and make an impact, some time over the next twelve months.

MEM//BRANE – MEM//BRANE

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Jan 092025

(Andy Synn says that the new album from MEM//BRANE is one hell of a way to kick off 2025)

Let’s keep the momentum of the new year going with a new band… or, at least, a band who are new to me… shall we?

AM I IN TROUBLE? – SPECTRUM

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Jan 072025

(Andy Synn officially kicks off a new year here at NCS in colourful style)

The big question at the start of every new year is… where do we start?

Should I tell you what I think about the new one from The Great Old Ones? Or This Gift Is A Curse? Maybe Imperial Triumphant?

All big names, in their own way, and ones which I’m sure we’ll get to cover at some point in the near future (I’m definitely going to be writing something about the latter two myself) but our modus operandi here has always been to favour the unsung artists first and foremost.

And so, I thought, why not kick things off with something a little bit more provocative – though, I’d imagine, much of that will depend on how restrictive your view of the term “Black Metal” is – from a brand new artist attempting to put their own artsy, avant-garde spin on a genre more famous for its monochromatic malevolence.

THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED (BUT SHOULDN’T)

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Jan 022025

(Andy Synn isn’t quite ready to say goodbye to 2024 just yet)

Well, here we are. It’s 2025 and time to start looking towards what this new year has to bring.

Or, should I say, almost time… because first I want to highlight a quartet of releases which – for various reasons (namely that either they hadn’t actually come out, or I hadn’t stumbled across them yet) – I didn’t have chance to include in my annual “List Week”, but which all definitely deserve some extra attention before we finally consign 2024 to the gaping maw of history.

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 178): TEMPESTARII

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Dec 312024

Recommended for fans of: Ultha, Wiegedood, Altar of Plagues

Well, it seems that we have once again completed another rotation around the sun.

And so, with thoughts of celestial cycles and perpetual cosmic patterns at the forefront of my mind I present to you the last Synn Report of 2024, wherein we journey deep into the soul and psyche of Tempestarii.

DREAMING OF A BLACK CHRISTMAS

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Dec 242024

(Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Andy Synn has three early Christmas presents for you)

I know not everyone out there celebrates Christmas – either as a religious event or an example of crass commercialism – but for me this period of the year has (with the occasional exception) always been about stepping back and taking some much-needed time to rest and relax and reconnect with family and friends.

Not everyone, of course, is so lucky, which is why today I’d like to share my many blessings with those who are less fortunate… by bringing them a black Christmas, featuring two bands I mentioned during “List Week” (but hadn’t had a chance to cover beforehand) and one whose latest album I didn’t manage to include at all (an omission I am hoping to make up for here).

2024 – A YEAR IN REVIEW(S): THE PERSONAL TOP TEN

LISTMANIA 2024 13 Responses »

Dec 132024

(Andy Synn finishes off “List Week” with his personal favourites of the year)

Well, here we are, finally at the end of “List Week”… and, let me tell you, I am ready to take some time off and recharge/reset my mental machinery.

Oh, I’ll probably end up writing one or two more things, here and there, before the end of the month – there’s a handful of Black Metal albums I really want to write more about, for one thing, and I’ve got to do my end of the month Synn Report, of course – but for the most part I’ll be turning the site back over to Islander, DGR, and whatever guests posts we have, for the rest of December.

Before then, however, I’ve got one more list up my proverbial sleeve… and this one, thankfully, is a lot easier and more laid back, seeing as it’s basically just the ten albums which “clicked” with me and monopolised my listening the most this year.

It’s not the “best” albums of the year, by any means – though many of them appeared on my “Great” list – it’s just my favourite full-lengths from the last twelve months (and you can see what my favourite EPs were here), and should give you some idea of where my personal tastes lay these last many months.

2024 – A YEAR IN REVIEW(S): THE CRITICAL TOP TEN

LISTMANIA 2024 13 Responses »

Dec 122024

(Andy Synn does his best to remain objective while selecting his “Critical Top Ten” of 2024)

Out of everything I’ve written and published this week, this is the closest to a traditional “Best Of” list.

But, even so, it’s still a little different, as while it’s ostensibly a “Top Ten”, it’s purposefully not ranked… rather it’s meant to be a snapshot of the ten albums (drawn from yesterday’s “Great” list) which together form the best representation of the year in Metal, across all the different styles and sub-genres which make up our beloved scene.

I’ll grant you that ten albums isn’t enough to fully represent the sheer variety and vitality of the year – you’ll notice for example, that both Blood Incantation and Job For A Cowboy are notably absent – but I’ve still tried my best (while also trying to be as “objective” as possible, despite that being ultimately an exercise in futility, as there will always be some sort of subjective bias involved) to provide a hand-picked cross-section which hopefully illustrates the very best-of-the-best from the last twelve-ish months.

As always, in recognition that many of our readers may already be familiar with some of the albums selected for this year’s “Critical Top Ten”, I’ve also included a few “honourable mentions” – whose primary purpose is to highlight a few extra albums which, while they may not have made it into the Top Ten, still deserve more recognition and attention – so even if you think you know what to expect (and, hopefully, there’ll still be a few surprises) you might just discover a brand new favourite artist/album while you’re here!

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