I only have a dubbed copy of this split demo (limited to 70 hand-numbered copies) but it's a killer, with dark and hateful music on both sides. Unfortunately I can't really enlighten the reader with a track listing or anything but I'll give a general impression of the music and perhaps another reviewer will analyze it more in depth, or otherwise I'll return to it myself at a later point in time. Akitsa come from Quebec and Song of Melkor from America and these two bands are more or less perfect to appear on a recording together, by means of similar detestable and suffering atmospheres and no nonsense on either end.

Akitsa - The young duo's four tracks here are even stronger than on Total Servitude and completely misanthropic and nihilistic. Welcome back to the black legions! There's definite Mütiilation and Vlad Tepes influence of course in this raw and harsh piece of work, with acoustic ranges in speed from blazing melodies to an almost ambient essence (sometimes reminiscent of Ildjarn). Pure fucking coldness and some rather clean although completely twisted vocals streamline through an overpoweringly chilling and evil piece of work played exactly the way it should be. Well done.

Song of Melkor - This band I had not heard prior, and the seven tracks they produce are definitely the more chaotic side of the split. The guitars remind me of Beherit's Messe des Morts with a more buzzing and underlying feel and the vocals are frenzied screams not unlike Fluisterwoud, but with some occasional deeper snarling. Objectively Song of Melkor could use some more solidity and some parts of this seem like an unstructured mess, but overall a good outing and I'll probably track down the other demo and the split with Cross Sodomy and Rampage soon.

© 2001 hando