LanzerRath is a black metal band from Michigan who formed in 2018; they have released four full-length albums to date. Shroud of Despondency is a black metal band from Michigan/Wisconsin who formed in 1999; they have released seventeen full-length albums among numerous EPs, demos, live albums and splits.
These two diabolical bands have come together for a split album consisting of three songs and a 40 minute run time. That is a decent amount of time for a split but, thankfully, it is well worth the time to invest. LanzerRath provides one song, the nearly 20 minute epic “Nebular Collapse: The Dissolution of Order and Meaning,” and SoD offer the first two tracks.
On the surface, the two bands couldn’t be more different. Shroud of Despondency plays a more theatrical and off the beaten path approach for their brand of blackened darkness. LanzerRath, who I was not familiar with before receiving this review promo, is a much more raw, bleak take on the genre.
But the two bands pair well as they both offer a long form approach to blackened songwriting, stuffing each song to the gills with a lot of great ideas.
The opening song, “The Source of Multiversal Degradation,” is immediately sprawling, offering cleverly arranged keys that are boosted by heavy footed double bass and riffs that are deep in tone. As always, SoD reveal themselves to be a very musical band, meaning they adapt and make each part of their song compliment the other. This results in an epic song that is tightly written and performed. The song sounds unhinged during several moments, such as during the guitar solo around the 3:46 mark or the wild but highly effective clean vocals that begin at the 5:46 mark.
The band also provides the next song, “Celestial Venom,” which starts more straightforward and focused on speed. The riffs are, well, venomous but the band still provides a layer of imaginative soundscapes. The movement from 3:43 to 6:00 is particularly wild, with the harrowing riffs and blackened shrieks that lead into a spacey atmosphere highlighted by clean keys and melodic leads.
The final song, LanzerRath's “Nebular Collapse: The Dissolution of Order and Meaning,” is sprawling in its own right and the production is noticeably more raw. However, their song is barbaric and unrelenting so the production not only works but it is definitely needed. The song’s use of clean instrumentation is well integrated into the song, offering a despondent and detached atmosphere especially when paired with the blackened vocals.
The middle portion is musically slower and methodical compared to the beginning but quickly ramps up with some of the best riffs on the album. The final five minutes or so of the track are my favorite. It goes from all out speed and aggression to a darker, cavernous romp with low riffs and terrifying vocals.
I’m glad to see more and more splits being released in the last few years because they are a great way to introduce fans to bands they might not know and usually offer variety between whomever is playing. This split in particular is fantastic; I don’t think any song is better than the other as both bands provide very well written black metal songs.
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