Blackdeath / Leviathan "Totentanz II / Portrait In Scars" Split CD

Descripción Comes in a standard jewel case with black/grey tray, includes a 12 panel poster insert with printed lyrics (the Blackdeath full set and only track 6 from Leviathan) and credits.
Like the reviewer before me, I'd like to just skip the Blackdeath part of this split. It's really atrocious and frightfully bad. Awful, awful, awful recording with an uninteresting and stereotypical sound; forget it. That being said, this is a great release. Don't even think about the Blackdeath part of the album, and you'll be sure to enjoy this release a great deal. I'm not even equating them into the score of this release.
A similar low-key and on the thin side production is to be found here as it was on Tenth Sub-Level of Suicide, but as always it doesn't serve as fault or as an imperfection. There's also an oddity to be found on this release, something which I can't recall on any other Leviathan album: movie samples. They don't detract from the value of the release at all, in fact they fit fine, but it was just a big surprise for me. Beyond that it's all typical Leviathan; dense and harrowing atmospheres, distorted and tortured vocals, catchy and trance inducing riffs and a touch of ambiance.
The release starts strong with two of Wrest's better songs. "Corpse Glide" relies on a particularly catchy riff as the song carries itself at a medium to fast pace all along keeping things interesting with little breaks and changes here and there, as well as an awesome refrain. The second track brings about the more emotional and atmospheric side of Leviathan, which all starts off, and ends, with a twisted quote from Ichi The Killer (a personal favorite of mine) and acts a more ambient ridden song. "The Wither Season" serves as our expected ambient track. It's pretty neat, a bit on the creepy side, more in tune with his A Silhouette In Splinters release. Lastly the release ends with another phenomenal track, which showcases a nice mixture of a more direct black metal style song with a subtle but lethal dose of atmosphere and a calming drone ending.
This release is defiantly essential if you've enjoyed any of Leviathan's work. The first two tracks are seemingly accessible (for one who is accustomed to black metal and it's constant flirtation with analog recording in its poorest form) and should get you hooked on Leviathan. Skip over Blackdeath's stinky broccoli vibe and go straight for the meat and potatoes that is Levithan's side of this split.
Sample:  Totentanz II / Portrait in Scars (FULL SPLIT) Black Metal