Nadja
Bodycage
Profound Lore (2006)
There aren't many drone and ambient bands out there that can hold my interest for more than a couple of minutes. There has to be a certain something special there - something epic and enormous - to make me want to keep listening. And Nadja is a band that has that certain something. Nadja is a Toronto, Canada duo that … Read more
Nadja
Clinging to the Edge of the Sky
Adagio 830/Vendetta (2009)
Yes, Nadja continues to be a frustratingly prolific group that pumps out records faster and more geographically spread out than most bands could ever dream of producing. And while that is exciting for fans of the group, it is also difficult to keep up with at times. Quite literally, Clinging to the Edge of the Sky is the newest recording … Read more
Nadja
Corrasion (Reissue)
The Miskatonic Sound Lab (2012)
Being an acquired taste is a blessing for some bands as they get to be as adventurous as they could ever want to be and their “fan” base usually will go along with them, and Nadja is most definitely one such band that truly benefits from such an underground status or descriptor (what have you). In any case, listening to … Read more
Nadja
Desire in Uneasiness
Crucial Blast (2008)
Where to start with Nadja? To be honest, being inundated with hype from the Internet's hype machine forces my hand into checking out what this duo has to offer my ears. Desire in Uneasiness is the two-piece's first full-length of new material after a slew of re-releases and re-recordings. But the promise in what I am hearing about Nadja truly … Read more
Nadja
Flipper
Oaken Palace (2013)
Do you find that at times you need to change your perspective on something or someone, and if so how exactly do you gain that fresh perspective? For my part, gaining a fresh perspective usually means walking away from something for a period of time and coming back with a regained enthusiasm and excitement to dive back into whatever it … Read more
Nadja
Numbness
Happy Prince (2009)
Numbness is an excellent collection of rarities and previously unreleased material from the increasingly prolific two-piece known as Nadja. Aidan Baker and Leah Buckeroff are nothing if not active and this release is not one of those "for collectors only" type releases for completists. In fact, Numbness contains what is arguably some of the group's best material. The six tracks … Read more
Nadja
Queller
Essence Music (2014)
As a full on Nadja addict, Queller was immediately on my radar when I heard of its upcoming release; but as a “music critic” (that is what we do here right), Queller may just be one of the finest not quite hour of their impressive discography / existence to this point, which is an impressive feat considering how large and … Read more
Nadja
Under a Jaguar Sun
Beta-Lactam Ring (2009)
When was the last time that you experienced an extremely impressive musical project that made your jaw drop to the ground in awe of the scope, execution, and general quality of the complete package (sound, music, record art, record packaging, etc)? Speaking for myself, I know of the last record (or group of records) that I considered exceptionally impressive in … Read more
Nadja / Black Boned Angel
Nadja / Black Boned Angel
20 Buck Spin (2009)
Having these two notable monikers teaming up for a second collaboration is just right up my alley, particularly because their previous collaborative effort, Christ Send Light is one of my favorite recordings from both Nadja and Black Boned Angel thus far. This second effort (actually recorded around the same time as their previous collaboration) is two pieces of sonic manipulation … Read more
Nadja & Picastro
Fool, Redeemer
Broken Spine (2011)
Hate me for it, but this release was the one that kind of soured me on Nadja and (in particular) all of their collaborations because, right from the word “go”, Fool, Redeemer was an absolute chore to sit through my first full listening “party” of the album; now, let me be up front and declare that given my obsession with … Read more
Nadja and Uochi Toki
Cystema Solari
Corpoc (2014)
Despite the fact that Canadian/German drone group Nadja has a long history of collaborating with various artists from around the globe, their 2014 collaboration with Italian hip hop duo Uochi Toki may be one of the partnerships that seems the most unlikely. I first became aware of Nadja back in 2009 with the release of Pyramids with Nadja, a lush, … Read more
Naedr
Past Is Prologue
Zegema Beach Records (2020)
Sometimes I just can’t remember how something got my attention in the first place. One such example is longboarding. I picked it up somewhere, but I can not remember what made me try that. And I have been quite devoted to long distance longboarding. You might think I would remember why I started, but no. The same is the case … Read more
Nag
Nagged to Death
Fysisk Format (2018)
Musicwise I grew up in the '90s. Unlike my peers I did not enjoy the punk of that time (Green Day and The Offspring), nor grunge. In fact I only recently discovered that a couple of the bands stemming from that scene are worth my time. Instead of those influences I grew up on a steady diet of '80s metal … Read more
Nagelfar
Virus West
Ván (2006)
In Norse Mythology, the Naglfar is a ship built, naturally, from the fingernails and toenails of the dead. Black metal always has been, and I suspect always will be, an odd one for me. Whilst I'd really rather have as little association as possible with the corpse paint, witch hats, and general chastising of Christianity, the dripping black atmosphere is … Read more
Nahemah
A New Constellation
Lifeforce (2009)
Nahemah are a rather different band. Coming out of Spain a country not generally known for their metal and playing a style different than most. They play a style of metal that involves prog, post metal and death metal among others. While some might read that description and picture a band not being able to find a direction and coming … Read more
Nai Harvest
Hold Open My Head EP
Dog Knights Productions/Topshelf Records (2014)
Nai Harvest released this four song EP earlier on this year and I've been meaning to listen to it for a while now and man I wish I hadn't waited. It is a powerful record with soaring guitar work and vocals to match compliments of Ben Thompson who is ably backed up on drums by Lew Currie. The band's roots … Read more
Nai Harvest
Whatever
Pinky Swear (2013)
I unfairly judged Nai Harvest at first glance. Band name: wacky. Album title: hip self-awareness masquerading an average sounding record. Genre: Emo. Oh emo, we meet again old foe. A style birthed by ex-punks, killed by its own apathy, briefly reanimated by fringed goths, then killed and mounted by Tumblr. Why me? Can't Lew go back to Grazes and we … Read more
Nails
Abandon All Life
Southern Lord (2013)
The only reason Metallica is supposedly used as a torture tactic in Guantanamo is because the C.I.A. doesn't know about Nails. I mean that to sound neither glib nor uncomplimentary - there's a cruel relentlessness to Nails that I and other fans of extreme music will most certainly appreciate, but, and I'll avoid the arrogant use of the term understanding … Read more
