Vassafor
/ Temple Nightside - Call of the Maelstrom (Split LP)
Iron Bonehead
Productions
Review by Trevor Proctor
Iron
Bonehead has yet again united two of the undergrounds darkest, gnarliest forces
to release a split LP which has just seen the light of day. This time New
Zealand’s Vassafor combines with Australia’s Temple Nightside to bring us some
of the ugliest and heaviest music on the planet on “Call of the Maelstrom.” VK
shares duties with both bands, an individual whose extensive roster of previous
bands includes Diocletian, Ulcerate and Sinistrous Diabolus. This extremely
talented individual plays bass for Temple Nightside and guitar, vocals and bass
for Vassafor.
Vassafor
has been spoiling us of late with their productivity – their brilliant split LP
with Sinistrous Diabolus came out in June last year, followed by their live album,
Death Transmission on vinyl last December which came out in a limited quantity
of 250. Not content with this recent output Vassafor isn’t a band for resting
on its arse and recently embarked on an extensive European tour with Ascension,
Bolzer and Dysangelium – taking in a mighty eleven European cities between the
19th of February and 1st March, including their UK debut in London where all
four bands shared the bill with the legendary Destroyer 666.
Vassafor’s music
is fearsome and smothering blackened death that’s as brutal as it is entrancing,
the sort of music that sucks you right in and won’t let go of your or your
conscious until it’s over. To Your Grave is Vassafor’s instrumental opener and
aside from this it’s straight down to business as Vassafor well and truly put
the boot into proceedings with Phoenix of the Maelstrom, adopting quite an
up-front approach, choosing to go straight for the jugular. VK’s vocal is most
certainly suited to commentating on the world’s destruction as his demonic tone
brings even more hostility to this music that’s dark, sinister and dripping
with hate.
Throughout this and the remaining two tracks (Crowned in Irradiated
Ashes and Tormentum Aeturnum) Vassafor pummel your eardrums with some of the
best underground death metal out there at the moment. Cliché maybe, but tough
shit - if you don’t like this you don’t like Death Metal. Three releases of
such a high standard from a band of this calibre in just over six months
highlights their dedication and ability - I make no secret of it, I’m a fan of
Vassafor’s music and this is as good as they’ve released so far.
Temple
Nightside also had a recent release in the form of a cassette box set, also
from Iron Bonehead, that features the Condemnation album along with their demo,
Prophecies of Malevolence. Their side features two tracks, the first of which
is Knell, a slow burner to start with as Temple Nightside build the pace and tension,
hypnotising the listener before aurally knocking their shit in – a nine minute
monster this track brings the listener on a destructive, suffocating journey
without an opportunity for a single gasp of air.
The Howling Void, As Wolves…
is Temple Nightside’s second and final track and it shows even more of their
sinister side. Starting with an effect, distant voices and a solitary drumbeat
it builds tension and horror for close to two minutes before slowly sucking you
in further with its prolonged, yet totally destructive music. We’re close to
four minutes in before the track starts to destroy what it’s captured - you and
your conscious. As with Knell this is a fantastic track with more than enough
hateful atmospherics to captivate the listener during the eight minute trip to
the depths of depravity, a perfect closer to a perfect split LP.
The
standard of underground metal rising from the catacombs this year continues to
astound me – this is a quality release from two of the finest and most
important bands the underground has to offer. An essential listen for anyone
into vehement death metal, I’d honestly lose hope if you’re into underground
music and don’t like this.
Perfect.
10/10
Side A (Vassafor)
1 - To your Grave
2 - Phoenix of the Maelstrom
3 - Crowned in Irradiated Ashes
4
- Tormentum Aeturnum
Side B (Temple Nightside)
1 - Knell
2 - The Howling Void, As Wolves……
Call of the Maelstrom is available now from Iron Bonehead Productions.
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