Xasthur/Leviathan – Split CD
Author: Kristofer Upjohn
Some non-melodic black metal strives for an expansive, cavernous emptiness to production. Some. But not Xasthur or Leviathan, either one. Both of these bands contain folks behind the creation of Twilight, a black metal band that is, as you’ll know if you caught the buzz and checked ‘em out, demonically dense and almost achieves a sort of doom black metal by way of its uberthick production value, sort of High on Fire carried to black metal extremes. Well, ths split EP is a chance to hear each of these two bands in their own element, doing their own independent schtick, so you can see why they both should be considered as top dwellers on the underground black metal pyramid. Both bands come from similar creative dimensions – though they both have their own personality; you should be able to see the split in the split CD – and their dense compositions, surrounded by the production’s manipulated murk (a deliberate part of the creative style here), create what could be considered heavy ambient metal. it could also be interpreted by some as doomish, though that comes from a more oblique angle. At any rate, what you get here is a soldering together of the slow-for-black-metal pacing instrumentals – a potent electric cloud of guitar and slow-groove percussion – and raging vocals that are leveled into the mix so that every element feels equal; the end result is one, solid, fused slab of metal atrocity. Turn the lights out and sink into the shadows.
7.5/10
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Battle Kommand
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