AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: EXCOMMUNICATIO — “KONFINATION – DISCIPLES OF THE LIGHT”

 Premieres  No Responses »
Apr 282025
 

(written by Islander)

With phenomenal cover art by Eliran Kantor paving the way, on May 2nd Vendetta Records will release a split entitled MANDATUM by two striking black metal bands — Excommunicatio (Germany) and Beenkerver (Netherlands). The split includes three new songs by each band, and today we’re premiering a lyric video for one of the three by Excommunicatio.

For Excommunicatio the split follows up their 2023 debut album Kodex Luzifer, which we reviewed here. The review included these thoughts:

To be sure, the album is relentlessly hellish, just as the vocals are relentlessly spine-tingling in their demonic intensity, but the album takes us on a tour — because this vision of hell is not all one place. As rendered in these songs, it is ruled by magisterial haughtiness and cold cruelty, but the lords also exult in their un-ruled excesses and their displays of burning glory, and they war on heaven too. In this infernal pageant we also tour ghettos of suffering and the wandering of lost souls in desolation.

What new hells do the Excommunicatio duo open for us on the split? We envision one of them through “Konfination – Disciples of the Light.” Continue reading »

OBSCURITIES – VOLUME IV: BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
Apr 082024
 

(We present another one of Dan Barkasi‘s monthly collections of reviews and recommended music, taking stock of 8 records that saw release in March.)

The year is moving quickly, isn’t it? March brings us the reminder of Julius Caesar’s big mistake, the conclusion of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 (Heja BVB), and some of the final episodes of the timeless Curb Your Enthusiasm. Whilst I agree with most of Larry David’s neurotic observations, we have to especially take his side on the cheese debate. Also, text chains are the worst. But, we could go on all day. Kevin P and Madder Mortem know the score.

We’re a quarter of the way through already, and the volume of releases is on a steady upward trajectory. That leaves a metric ton of music to take in – not that we’re complaining, mind you – in order to dig out a smattering of quality stuff that may be hiding between some of the more obvious heavy hitters. The month also brought its share of puzzling releases – Coffin Storm is the sonic equivalent of melatonin – but thankfully, there was more quality than not from the bigger acts on down. Continue reading »