THE SYNN REPORT Archives - NO CLEAN SINGING

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 184): IMHA TARIKAT

Jun 302025

Recommended for fans of: Dödsrit, Watain, Spectral Wound

We are no strangers to the works of existential extremists Imha Tarikat here at NoCleanSinging.

As a matter of fact, I was personally responsible for reviewing the group’s 2nd and 3rd albums, Sternenberster and Hearts Unchained…, and the only reason I haven’t yet written about their recently-released 4th record, Confessing Darkness, is because I wanted to save it for this month’s edition of The Synn Report.

With a firm foundation in (if you hadn’t already guessed) Black Metal – one which showcases a deep and abiding appreciation for the classics without sounding self-consciously (or self-indulgently) “retro” – the band’s distinctive formula also incorporates hefty helpings of gnarly, tooth-gnashing Crust and Punk influences, as well as lashings of heroic Heavy Metal melody, resulting in a sound rich in potential for possible cross-over success while still staying true (or “trve”) to the genre’s roots.

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 183): DROUTH

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May 312025

Recommended for fans of: Abigail Williams, Weakling, Woe

Since I was lucky enough to attend another edition of Northwest Terror Fest this year it only seemed to make sense to me to dedicate this edition of The Synn Report to a band I was lucky enough to see for the first time at the festival a couple of years back.

Of course, this wasn’t my first exposure to the feral Black Metal ferocity of Portland’s Drouth, as I wrote some pretty positive things about their second album, Excerpts from a Dread Liturgy, back in 2020 (a review which I have partially cannibalised for this article), but getting to see them rip it up live in Seattle last year definitely increased my appreciation for their increasingly savage, scorching sound.

And what better way to show my appreciation than to feature all three of their albums, including their recently-released third full-length The Teeth of Time, in this month’s edition of The Synn Report?

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 182): INOCULATION

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May 012025

Recommended for fans of: Ulthar, Mithras, Cryptopsy

It honestly amazes me that we’ve never written about Inoculation before, outside of a few passing mentions here and there.

But with the recent release of their third album, Actuality, a few weeks ago now seems like the perfect time to address this terrible injustice.

You see, while the majority of the US Death Metal scene is currently (and, perhaps understandably) obsessed with the “New Wave of American Death Metal” (the most prominent names of which I’m sure you’re all aware) that updates and upgrades the classic OSDM sound for more modern ears, this crushing Cleveland trio – who firmed up and finalised their line-up in 2016, and released their first full-length in 2018 – draw just as much (if not more) influence from the late 90s/early 00s explosion of Brutal/Technical Death Metal bands.

That’s not to say that keen ears won’t be able to detect the influence of the likes of Death and Deicide here and there, but I’d argue that its bands like Demilich and Deeds of Flesh whose DNA has the most dominant impact on the band’s ultimate sound (especially after they shook off those early growing pains after their debut).

But don’t just take my word for it… give the band’s collective output a listen below and hear for yourselves (and, if you’re of a mind to, check out what else I’ve written too).

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 181): SECRET CUTTER

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Mar 312025

Recommended for fans of: Soilent Green, Wake, Inter Arma

One of the best things in life is discovering a cool new band out of the blue.

Sadly by the time I discovered this particular band – a considerable amount of time after the release of their second album – the group had gone worryingly quiet, with only a passing teaser of them working on their next release in late 2020 indicating they were still alive, leading me to assume that they’d most likely quietly gone on hiatus (if not broken up entirely).

But the recent release of their long-gestating third album, ///, has firmly put to rest any exaggerated rumours of the bands demise… which is why today I have the great pleasure of (re)introducing you to the face-melting, flesh-ripping, full-throttle Sludge-Grind of Secret Cutter

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 180): GREAT AMERICAN GHOST

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Feb 282025

Recommended for fans of: Employed to Serve, Fit For An Autopsy, Knocked Loose

Despite their steadily growing profile over the years, this is the first time we’re actually writing about Boston-based bruisers Great American Ghost here at NCS (though their 2022 EP, Torture World did get a small mention in my end of year round-up at the time) so a quick introduction may be necessary before we go any further.

Equally influenced by seminal Hardcore acts like American Nightmare, The Hope Conspiracy, and Vision of Disorder as they are living Metal legends like Meshuggah, Gojira, and Fear Factory, the group’s sound has slowly shifted over the years, moving from the rougher, rawer approach of their debut album, Everyone Leaves, through the increasingly heavier and more metallic sounds explored on Hatred Stems from the Seed and Power Through Terror, to the even bigger and more bombastic tones of their most recent record, Tragedy of the Commons (which was released just last month).

So if any of that sounds appealing (and I’m hoping it does) then get ready to discover your new favourite band!

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 179): RELICS OF HUMANITY

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Jan 312025

Recommended for fans of: Devourment, Disentomb, Disgorge

It’s somewhat crazy to think that we’re now on the 179th edition of The Synn Report.

That’s 179 different bands (actually it’s probably slightly more) I’ve dived into since starting to write here, with the first edition – not counting the unofficial “part zero” which was written by Islander following an early recommendation of mine – being published in January of 2011.

Of course, looking back, my initial intention to do these reports weekly seems hopeless naïve – I managed it for a while, but once I became a permanent fixture here I had to scale them back to monthly – but the purpose behind them, to write up and recommend a band’s entire back-catalogue, rather than just their latest release, is one thing which hasn’t changed.

And so, to kick off the 2025 season, today we’re going to be getting truly, utterly, and unforgivingly brutal with the Belarussian blast ‘n’ bludgeon of Relics of Humanity (whose long-gestating third album releases today).

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.

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 177): ALKYMIST

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Nov 302024

Recommended for fans of: Celtic Frost, Triptykon, Omination

For my penultimate Synn Report of the year I’ve chosen a band who recently put out one of the best albums of the year (sorry, that probably should have come with a “spoiler warning” for my end of year list-stravaganza).

But to fully understand the inner workings of Danish deviants Alkymist – whose music has been described both as “Progressive Sludge” and “Post-Doom” (with the truth lying somewhere in between) – we have to go back to their self-titled 2018 album and become familiar with how they’ve grown and evolved in the years since then.

Are you with me?

Good… then let’s begin.

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 176): OBSIDIAN MANTRA

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Oct 312024

Recommended for fans of: Decapitated, Meshuggah, Replicant

It’s the end of another month, which means it’s time for another edition of The Synn Report.

But not only is it the end of another month, it’s also very close to the end of the year, meaning that – including this one – there’s only three more editions of this column left before the end of 2024.

So I’d better make each of them count, right?

Which is why today I’d like to direct your attention to the Polish powerhouse known as Obsidian Mantra and their hybrid blend of densely-wound, Decapitated-esque riffs and galvanised, Meshuggah-like grooves.

THE SYNN REPORT (PART 175): STAMPIN’ GROUND

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Sep 302024

Recommended for fans of: Earth Crisis, All Out War, Living Sacrifice

If you’re not aware – though it’s been well-documented here over the years – Hardcore was the first genre of “alternative”, non-mainstream music that really spoke to me as a kid.

And although I’ve grown apart from “the scene” over the years – I’m sure there’s still good parts of it still, but trying to navigate all the different cliques and their increasing obsession with “mosh style” just isn’t for me any more – I’m still always keen to find and feature new albums and new bands (perhaps you’ve even read about some of them here?) that I think best represent the sort of Hardcore that I want to hear more of.

At the same time, however, I’ve also still got a lot of love for the bands who first got me into the genre back when I was just a dumb kid (as opposed to an equally dumb adult), which is why today I want to (re)introduce you to the thuggishly thrashy Metallic Hardcore of British bruisers Stampin’ Ground.

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