Det Hedenske Folk / Abyssic Hate
United By Heathen Blood
[Bloodless Creations]
A killer! I have to admit I was much more impressed by this split than I thought I was going to be; I've never been into Immortal much (which of course this sounds a great deal like, having Abbath on drums), even in the days before they forsook all their talent for blind speed, and I was one of the few (very few it seems) people unenthusiastic about Abyssic Hate's Suicidal Emotions which sounded mostly like Darkthrone cloning with a lack of energy behind the vocals. Hence I delayed picking this up for quite a long time and I have to admit now that was a serious mistake, as looking at this objectively the material is excellent on both sides.
Det Hedenske Folk - Unfortunately there's only around 11 minutes here, but this is classically cold and powerful folk-influenced black metal with vomit-throated screams and torturous rasps from Tyr. The songs are off of the 1995 demo and Pytten has fitted the recording with his usual superb production, outlining that conventional Grieghallen sound with thin yet thundering and scorchingly fast instruments. Abbath's abilities as a session drummer are as admirable as usual and give the entire side a very hypnotic and compelling feel. For those of you who love Battles of the North you're going to eat this alive.
Abyssic Hate - Shane Rout succeeds here where Judas Iscariot and Moonblood all too often fail - that is, taking clear inspiration from the early Nordic sound, yet still managing to develop it into a very unique and commemorative atmosphere. There are some amazing underlying riffs ("Cleansing of an Ancient Race", "Damned for Eternity", "Bloodletting") and I only wish he had stormed through Suicidal Emotions with the same ferocious and intense vocal power that he does on the six tracks from this 1994 demo (which comprises the majority of the split, being over thirty minutes of actual music). Johnston attributes some very solid and proficient drumming, bass is very quiet in the back, and overall simply a great formula which makes me think I owe Suicidal Emotions a few more listens.
© 2001 hando
Det Hedenske Folk - Unfortunately there's only around 11 minutes here, but this is classically cold and powerful folk-influenced black metal with vomit-throated screams and torturous rasps from Tyr. The songs are off of the 1995 demo and Pytten has fitted the recording with his usual superb production, outlining that conventional Grieghallen sound with thin yet thundering and scorchingly fast instruments. Abbath's abilities as a session drummer are as admirable as usual and give the entire side a very hypnotic and compelling feel. For those of you who love Battles of the North you're going to eat this alive.
Abyssic Hate - Shane Rout succeeds here where Judas Iscariot and Moonblood all too often fail - that is, taking clear inspiration from the early Nordic sound, yet still managing to develop it into a very unique and commemorative atmosphere. There are some amazing underlying riffs ("Cleansing of an Ancient Race", "Damned for Eternity", "Bloodletting") and I only wish he had stormed through Suicidal Emotions with the same ferocious and intense vocal power that he does on the six tracks from this 1994 demo (which comprises the majority of the split, being over thirty minutes of actual music). Johnston attributes some very solid and proficient drumming, bass is very quiet in the back, and overall simply a great formula which makes me think I owe Suicidal Emotions a few more listens.
© 2001 hando