Upon the Altar / DeathEpoch - Split

UPON THE ALTAR / DEATHEPOCH - Split (PUTRID CULT - CD 2022)

Split CDs / LPs are always fun to listen to and I really like the idea of bringing two (or more) killer bands on one release. Recently new split came from Putrid Cult Productions, with Upon the Altar and DeathEpoch. Both bands debuted a while ago with great full albums, so the information about collaboration of them both on one CD was very exciting. Knives are sharpened, torches aflame... the ritual begins. 

Upon the Altar is a pure murder. I absolutely love the work from this band, their debut album "Absid ab Ordine Luminis" was an extremely good effort and it took some time before the dust has settled after the devastation this album caused. I am so glad that these four new songs are no less fantastic (three more songs are just intros, so I am not commenting them, although they do keep that great blasphemous and ritualistic atmosphere, which is great). What you can expect from Upon the Altar is bestial, insanely savage death / black metal and they are ripping through with high intensity and brutality. Clearly Upon the Altar do not intend to take prisoners. Their music is annihilating and merciless. But what I love about them is that the riffage is more varied than in your usual band from that type of extreme metal. They do not focus just on fast paced, relentless death / black metal, for example "Theotokos Wept" is a wonderful slow, crushing wall of heavy chords. Honestly, every song from Upon the Altar sounds great, I love that harsh production and ghastly vocals and that dark, morbid, grave atmosphere, which the band creates. Sooo, if you think that bands like Teitanblood, Embrace of Thorns or Diocletian (to name just few) are up your street, then do not hesitate to support also this legion. 

As for DeathEpoch, I am sure their music can be seen as somehow controversial among more purist and orthodox extreme metal maniacs, due to the use of electronics or keyboards or whatever else is in the sick minds of two creators of that project. But even if so, I had almost sadistic pleasure when I played their "Abysmal Invocation" album loud to cause some disgust among the neighbors. There's something possessed and mad about their music – which is always welcome to hear. And DeathEpoch do not give a fuck about everything also on these three new tracks. Expect then raw, hateful, primitive and sometimes a bit experimental black metal. Expect total sonic violence and disturbance. Songs like “§148 art. (Human Beasts)” will give you a total blast, from techno beat through intense and primitive black metal savagery to the best riff that close the song accompanied by great sounding, mournful keyboard. “§148 art. (Onslaught)” is also noteworthy and I am sorry if I prefer when DeathEpoch plays slower stuff, but they are really, really great at it. Anyway, it may not be music for everyone, but who cares. If you like to hear some sick shit, then this is for you. 

Verdict: 80/100