We seem to get a split disc every couple of weeks or so and they are certainly reliable for discovering new bands, especially when it comes to the black metal side of things. This latest one via Immortal Frost Productions unleashes two completely new groups to me, each with two tracks to deliver the goods and make their presence felt. The words ‘Hail Satan’ expressively scream out from the back cover and the artwork in blacks and reds make it quite clear that what we are going to get are very much songs of anti-praise here.
First up are Sarkrista [6.5] from Hamburg in Germany. It would appear that they have a full length album ‘The Acheronian Worship’ which was released last year via Misanthropic Art Productions as well as another split with Finns Sielunvihollinen behind them. The quartet start off with ‘Evoking The Terminal Curses’ and immediately flail away with a tight buzz saw riffing which has a treble high sharpness in the mix. Vocalist Revenant has a throaty rasp and there are some sombre feelings behind the melody here which do get under the skin after a few plays. Moving onto their second offering ‘The Sea Part 1 (Rise Of Leviathan)’ we get a more bouncy tumult which pogos around injecting a bit of a punk feel before those rasps holler out turning things decidedly black. It swaggers away and has much more life about it than its predecessor, clattering fast and furiously on a headlong dash into to oblivion. Not bad at all, nothing that has not been heard plenty of times before but proficient and savage enough for further investigation.
Second act Unhuman Disease [7] from Oklahoma USA unveil themselves to actually be a one man act summoned forth by Nocturnus Dominus. He appears to be a very busy chap having six or so other projects on the go and as Unhuman Disease six albums already behind him. After some particularly disconcerting and eerie screams and drones ‘Black Fog Shadows’ thunders in and it is obvious that what Sarkrista lacked for in bottom end is well and truly present here. This is gnarly and primitive sounding with a repetitive riff rolling through it before opening up with wretched shrieks and a furrowing groove. Yep there’s definitely a bit more oomph to this diseased vile approach and when it slows to a doom laden mid-section it’s suitably necrotic and nasty. ‘Nocturnal Prayer’ is the final dark hymn and finishes things off merging speeds and adding some shrouded funereal vibes to the fast and feudal cleave of the songs main frame. Good sample at end too, should really recognise it.
All in all a good introduction for me to both bands but it’s the second which impress slightly more by injecting a bit more atmosphere into their work.
(Pete Woods)
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