KEVINP’S ALBUMS OF THE MONTH — DECEMBER 2015

 Album Reviews, Listmania  15 Responses »
Dec 172015
 

Akhenaten - Incantations Through the Gates of Irkalla

 

(Here’s the last of KevinP’s monthly selections for 2015, naming his Top 5 favorite albums released or scheduled for release during December.)

Since I’ve had plenty of time with this month’s releases to formulate my list, along with the fact that things start to get slow once Xmas week arrives, you’re getting this a little earlier than normal.  Also, my Top 25 Albums and Top 5 EP’s of the Year will be posted the first week of January.  Nothing else profound to say, so let’s get on with it. Continue reading »

CHILEAN VOLCANIC MUSIC

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  7 Responses »
Apr 252015
 

 

Hell has visited Earth again, in spectacular fashion. This time, the portion of Earth visited by Hell is Chile, where three days ago the Calbuco volcano erupted near the southern town of Puerto Montt after being quiet for 42 years. It has become the subject of some truly breathtaking photos and videos, some of which I’ve embedded in this post after the jump.

Are there any natural occurrences in the world more metal than an explosive volcanic eruption — especially eruptions that include lightning within the volcanic plume? I think not.

So, of course I decided that I needed to include some metal from Chile to accompany the photos and videos you’re about to see. I did dome searching through the NCS archives and discovered that in just the last 18 months we’ve written about more than a half dozen Chilean bands. I’ve collected songs from each of those bands, plus a couple of others. For a change, I’m not going to write any florid descriptions of the music, but just provide the streams and some links in case you want to explore further. All the music is excellent — volcanos aren’t the only things that unleash hell in Chile. Continue reading »

SEEN AND HEARD: MORGOTH, NAR MATTARU, GEHENNAH, SELVANS, HEREZA

 Metal News, RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  5 Responses »
Jan 172015
 

As I explained in yesterday’s round-up, there’s been such a flood of new songs and album announcements since the first of the year that I’m feeling overwhelmed. I haven’t been able to pounce on them with my usual catlike speed and agility this week, so I’m behind. And although catching up is already out of the question, I do want to throw a few more goodies your way this weekend.

MORGOTH

After releasing a collection of albums and EPs in the early ’90s, Germany’s Morgoth disbanded in 1998, but re-formed in 2011. They released a single named God Is Evil last year, and now they’ve completed a comeback album with the title Ungod. The album will feature vocals by new member Karsten “Jagger” Jäger (Disbelief), who replaced Marc Grewe in December. Continue reading »

TUESDAY TERRORIZING: IMPETUOUS RITUAL, DECAYING PURITY, KING PARROT, NAR MATTARU

 RANDOM FUCKING MUSIC  3 Responses »
Feb 182014
 

I’m working on my alliteration skills this week. I have my fun where I can find it. Speaking of fun, I have three new songs and one new video to share. If you think there might be no connection between the music and my alliterative word play, think again…

IMPETUOUS RITUAL

Earlier this month I reported about that dark piece of artwork embedded above. It’s the cover for Unholy Congregation Of Hypocritical Ambivalence, which is the name of an album by Australia’s Impetuous Ritual that’s due for release by Profound Lore on April 15. The band’s first album, Relentless Execution Of Ceremonial Excrescence, was released back in 2009. Their ranks include members of Portal and Grave Upheaval.

Yesterday an advance track was released for streaming. It’s a good thing “Venality In Worship” is only three and a half minutes long, because otherwise the structural integrity of the planet might be threatened. It’s a thoroughly obliterating blast of blackened death metal, roaring with massive, grinding guitars, militaristic percussion, and bestial vocal vituperation. The piercing guitar solos are utterly demented, too. Continue reading »