The work of the serpents has arrived! Ashencult from Philadelphia team up with Mephorash from Uppsala in order to bring together an omen of the forthcoming end of the world, as we know it. Both bands exist within the black metal spectrum and are offering one song each. So let’s break it down!
Ashencult
The promise of Ashencult is to offer us a vision of Heaven in flames… and they fucking deliver it. The band from Philadelphia, featuring Shawn Riley of Rumpelstilskin Grinder (and ex-member of Woe) bring a bitter tasting seven and a half minute long black metal opus entitled ‘My Tenth Death”. The combination of deeper vocals along with howls works perfectly while the band also seems very comfortable in changing their pace from mid-tempo parts to furiously fast moments, retaining the same excellent energy in both. Even though their music is quite extreme, Ashencult do provide some more melodic ventures.
The intro of the track has a quite dark vibe to it (as does the outro) and when the actual music kicks in you are immediately hooked by a mesmerizingly melodic lead that lures you into the core of Ashencult. Soon enough you realize that you have been tricked and all the aggression of the band is allowed to fall on you. The strongest aspect of the band is that they manage to retain your interest focused on them, relying on their
paranoid riffing and raw energy.
Mephorash
The Swedish band has previously released two full-lengths, Death Awakens, which came out in 2011, and Chalice of Thagirion a year after their debut album. “Atramentous Ungod Aspect” is their gift to this release, featuring guest vocals from Acherontas V. Pries of Greek black metal act Acherontas, spanning for over nine minutes, it begins with an interesting intro of, what I can only assume to be, throat-singing (?) through a well (?) before the organ sound gives the song a more ambient feeling. Soon enough though the band reveals its true nature unleashing a storm of horrifying black metal riffs. The use of both deep vocals, along with the typical grim black metal voice and the whispers, works quite well giving some further
variety to the album.
What is very interesting about the song is that Mephorash rely on their ambiance as much as they rely on their fury. There are moments when they leave you alone with the organ, while at the same time they are carefully scheming on how they are going to make you jump out of your seat. An example of the band’s duality can be found in the ritualistic vibe that they are able to pass onto the listener, about four minutes into the track, which contradicts in a very interesting manner with an all attack that occurs in the fifth minute of the song.
Conclusion
Opus Serpens presents two extreme black metal bands, that even though have a quite different approach towards the genre are able to produce a concise split offering us two excellent tracks. Since this is also a 10’’ vinyl edition you better hurry and get a copy!…Pre-Order HERE!!!
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