Lyrinx / Elysian Blaze/ D.O.R
Universal Absence (split CD)
Wydane przez Insidious Poisoning RecordsRok wydania Kraj UK / Australia / PortugalNapisał Wouter7
A three way split pairing black metal acts from the UK, Australia and Portugal. "Universal Absence" is a concept album of sorts detailing the emptiness and blackness of the universe. Lyrinx opens the split with three tracks of nihilistic depressive black metal of the traditional Norwegian variety. 'Expect the End' is slow building doom track that gains momentum through the repetition of its hypnotizing main riff, its sparse melodies and the tortured wailing shrieks by singer Dan, who manages to channel a bit of Martin van Drunen (Asphyx, Hail Of Bullets, ex-Pestilence). 'Astral Collapse' is notably faster and changes tempo more often while integrating Swedish melodies akin to pre-"Reinkaos" Dissection, although not nearly as masterful. Australia's Elysian Blaze offers one extensive track to this split with 'Black Hole Euphoria', which is a cut of crudely recorded pondering doom/black metal with ghastly vocals alike to Mayhem's Maniac on the "Wolfs Lair Abyss" EP. Portugal's D.O.R (which stands for Death Overcomes Reality or when taken as a single word for pain in Portugese) is stylistically similar to Elysian Blaze, although the music is played a bit faster and contains more dynamics. Overall, "Universal Absence" is a great little black metal split album which despite it rawness and underground murkiness definitely is amongst the better releases of recent years.
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