Split CD from '07 with two german bands of raw Black Metal in its purest state. For lovers of good old DARKTHRONE and the likes.
Track 2 Burzum cover
Track 6 Frostmoon cover
I purchased this split soon after I had discovered Ulfsdalir and their 2007 album Wolfszeit, which was much to my liking. I was completely unfamiliar with the other band, Throndt, though, yet I was convinced that it would offer at least some interesting ideas. Both outfits originate from the German state of Hesse and are loosely associated acts, as much I gathered, so I somewhat expected both acts to sound very similar. However, this is rather far away from the truth.
Actually, the only original song by Ulfsdalir on here also noticeably differs from the stuff on the aforementioned full-length, despite being released the same year. On "Zurück in die Nacht" the drifting, long-drawn tremolo riffs, rolling blast beats underneath and tasteful, sightly ethereal keyboards bring about a heavily repetitive and depressive aura. While on the other hand the compositions on Wolfszeit are quite dynamic, varying in speed and riffing structure and the melodies have more of an organic feel to them. The occasional acoustic/clean break definitely helps in this regard, something which would be completely out of place on the split track. It is a faultless piece of music, although you could probably ditch the negligible dark ambient part at the end.
The second offering is an unspectacular cover of Burzum's "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss". The lyrics are translated to and performed in German, but other than that it has no redeeming qualities. The guitars and drums are mixed more clearly, so there's almost nothing left of the droning and blurry quality of the original riffs. Moreover, the brooding keyboards which carried most of the atmosphere are basically gone now, a profound mistake. The vocal performance is restrained and unremarkable, but it couldn't have saved this cover all alone, anyway. In the end, you get cover of a song which got stripped off its characteristics and charm and is thrown naked to your feet.
After this rather tedious listening experience, Throndt comes along and brings something new to the table. The dark, menacing mood is gone and is replaced by airy riffing, distinct bass lines and fierce, barking vocals. At times, it even borders on being upbeat not unlike Kampfar's later stuff. You may as well call it nature-inspired black metal, the evilness is exchanged in favour of a pure and earthy feel, like walking through an archaic forest. The guitar tone sounds simultaneously sharp and warm, and with the laid-back bass tending to take the lead during slower, instrumental sections, there is a really nostalgic quality to be found. The harsh, and quite deep screams make it impossible to figure what the German lyrics are about, but the song titles suggest tales or other stories about local places and nature.
In addition to three excellent songs Throndt also recorded a cover of a Norwegian band which hasn't released anything in quite some time, but seems to be active. The track is called "Skøgrost" and while it is similar in speed and recording values, rich, symphonic keyboards lead the song and create a decent epic atmosphere. It is done well-enough, but it is the shortest and the most unremarkable piece on this split.
Sample:
