Nanking

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Band(s): Nanking
Label(s): Self-Released
Release Format(s): Digital
Release Year: 2025
Review Date: March 14, 2025
Author(s): Black Mary

Confined spaces quickly become overcrowded and the quality of living in that area becomes hazardous. The opening of the space can introduce a breath of fresh air, but in the long run it will start to change and erase the cultural traits of primary residents, which could lead to animosity towards them or in the worst case scenario, to losing the personal traits of primary residents until they are deleted from existence. And yes, I’m not talking about a busy street in some city right now.

The so called War Metal scene (which doesn’t exist by the words of some of its residents) is becoming overcrowded. All of the sudden any kid who figured out how to not use his mother’s washing machine properly, is convinced he can make proper War Metal (and instantly places himself at the side of people who make up a scene which doesn’t exist… or even above them). The scene is getting filled with bedroom projects of self-proclaimed Angelcadavers or CuntTerminators (or whatever horrendous names they give themselves), whose music doesn’t even resemble music anymore (and trust me, I’m a lifelong fan of the so called War Metal, so you can guess I’ve heard some horrible stuff… and loved it), as inception of something new would ruin the sound of something reserved for the elite. But not all of it is as grim as it looks.

There’s a proper War Metal band bulldozing their way through the absolute ‘no point’ projects. They are called Nanking (Nanking is a Chinese city which has been ravaged in a month long battle in the second Sino-Japanese war in 1937. It is currently estimated almost 300 000 people were killed in the battle), so for some reason I assume members of the band have read a thing or two on history (Sino-Japanese wars are a pretty niche interest anywhere in the world) and are trying to make music which sounds like a day in the battlefield sounded in that particular city, at that particular time. Which is an incredibly good starting point. This young band has released two demos, two long lengths, seven singles and two EPs, the latest being Bataan Death March (which I believe is currently only accessible on Bandcamp… or, if you’re lucky, you can contact one of the bands members (who actually have perfectly normal, human names) if there are any leftovers of an extremely limited number of CDs).

At the beginning of this EP, you’re thrown into a maniacal frenzy of machine gun drumming fighting with werewolf barking (to some extent vomiting) sounding vocals of several men being disembowelled and chainsawed to pieces (those chainsaw guitars really brings the entire thing together) at an enormous speed.

Sounds complicated? It should, as it’s almost impossible to describe how full the sound is, which is becoming a rare occurrence in contemporary War Metal, where using the computers too much makes the entire thing sound thin. No fear of it here, as effects are used tastefully… and that’s probably the only tasteful thing about it. Which, again, is more than good. This is War Metal and it should sound disgusting.

Country: USA
Style: Death Metal, Black Metal
Links: Facebook, Bandcamp, Spotify

VM-UNDERGROUND

Extreme Metal Fanzine est. 2012

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Nanking – Bataan Death March

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Nanking

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