SPUN
IN DARKNESS / GRAVEWURM
'Vengeance
From Beyond The Grave' Split CD
(HPDG
Productions)
Aah,
the joys of the good ole split type thing. A quick check on any web
metal forum will reveal at least one thread named "Fave split?"
or "Most iconic split of all times?" or, God forbid! -
"Pictures of your Unholy Grave / Agathocles /
NunSlaughter split collection". Yes, the underground
fiends mostly love these joint affairs - and rightly so, as it's
usually a great opportunity hearing two bands who share the same
ground / passion, all for the price of one. The journos, those
good-for-nothing clueless bastards (that doesn't apply to those fine
people writing for this here webzine, ha!), say the recession won't
be over any time soon, so the split thingy shouldn't be bothered much
for its future. Great.
Spun
In Darkness was previously
unknown to me but I did recognize the name of their drummer, Jeff
Nardone, as he used to bash the skins back in the day for the Nevada
underground cult, Goatlord.
That assures a heavy and tight bottom end and off we are for a
promising start already. The band isn't here to trying to challenge
the sound barrier and for the most part this stays within the tried
territories of early 90s doomier, mid-tempo death metal, providing
just enough catchy riffs and grooves, not to forget the "gurgling
glass" vocals. Granted, this isn't as "horror"
sounding as the band seems to have being aiming for, but this is
still creepy in its own right, and a pleasure to those ageing ears -
I'd buy them a beer if our paths are about to cross before Nibiru
pays the wee little visit in couple of months time. Yeah, right -
publishing a zine on the web gets you free trips to Las Vegas, get
off your lazy asses and start your own! "Temple To The Living
God" is my pick of the bunch, followed closely by "Part Of
You Becomes Part Of Me", while the cover version of Doom
Snake Cult's "Carnival
Freak Show" is the weakest link - way too "campy" for
me, thanks. [7,5]
Dale's review of 'Blood
Of The Pentagram' has really nailed the dark sound of Gravewurm
and I'm glad to report there's no disappointments on their part of
the split. Yet again those five new songs (plus a short keyboard
intro) reek of the band's trademarked combination of sinister black
metal and low-tuned death, making Gravewurm the obvious choice
for those who like it sick, simplistic and slower. You can
comfortably bang your head to these tunes, enjoying the subterranean,
raspy vocals, the well audible bass lines and the
Hellhammer-influenced, doomy fuzz guitar work, all while
absorbing the atmosphere of haunted dungeons this band is capable
putting forth through their music. Old-timers will be digging this
and I can foresee many of them giving the horns while listening,
nostalgically recalling the days of the finest black death. Ooops,
Riddick's artwork had taken over my mind a bit here, but that's OK.
Flesh is weak. Gravewurm are not. [7,5]
(Vladimir Petrov)
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