Written by Carcassbomb
- Atavisma/Void Rot
- Split
- Death Doom
- Paris/Minnesota
- February 7, 2020
- Everlasting Spew Records
- 9/10
Filthy, just filthy. These two bands need to wash their mouths out with soap. This is stupidly heavily in a really despondent and grimy way. This one is going to be an easy favorite with it’s well designed artwork and two extremely dark bands putting down three tracks of consistently suffocating death doom. Real fucking death doom, like the old school swedish stuff that started everything you love about the genre. Forget the melody, forget the melancholy, this is death and this is fucking doom. This one will be released by Everlasting Spew Records on the 7th of February on CD and as well a upcoming vinyl release.
Atavisma opens the split with a strong energy, it’s deep toned and guttural across the board with panic inducing guitars that cut through the muddy old school death doom mix. I love the guitar and bass work from this band, it’s really interesting. They pop up like hot bubbles bursting in a toxic swamp. There’s never a boring moment even during the most basic of riffs, you will at least hear an intriguing bass tone or surprise lick. Atavisma must have a unique setup of pedals and tunings because I don’t often hear this level of intrigue in a death doom band, there’s some innovation to be found in their tracks. The song-writing has a modern sense about it that mixes well with the old school structure without diluting it, it’s adding something special. An extra spice or two.
Void Rot finish the split off but take their time doing it, they’re a slower band that rely more on the doom side of death doom. There’s more of a rhythmic approach that lulls you into your demise like a slow inevitable illness. These are the death rattles of a nightmarish fever dream. Don’t expect anything fancy on this side of the record, it’s a straight forward march that will tire some and be right in the zone for others. The drumming is superb and does a lot to keep the motion going forward, especially on the final and fastest Void Rot track, “Accursed Earth” where the drums get to put in some low key blast beats and well timed hits that aim for maximum impact. A fantastic finish that rewards the entire listening to experience with a sense of musical closure. The last and most melodic guitar work yet winds the track out like a descent down an ancient spiral staircase into nothingness.
This one’s a no brainer. The opening track from Atavisma, “Speared Lungs” strikes a great first impression and the closing track from Void Rot, “Accursed Earth” shuts it down beautifully. Everything in between is a constant audio harassment of both bands showing their own take on similar ideas, with experimentation and a sense of playfulness thrown in. I can’t think of a way to fault it. If you like death doom and lofi death then this is an essential split to listen to this year, this is the one to remember for 2020’s end of year lists. Which is a hell of a thing because this is just a set up for each of the bands respective full lengths. Can’t wait.
9/10
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