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Review: Xasthur/Acid Enema - Split
Xasthur
xasthur.mercurous.net
Acid Enema
www.facebook.com/aesangre
Split

Label: Independent
Year released: 2002
Duration: 48:50
Tracks: 9
Genre: Black Metal

Rating:
4.25/5


Review online: August 4, 2002
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud
Readers' Rating
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Rated 4.17/5 (83.33%) (6 Votes)
Review

Two underground Black Metal forces, Xasthur and Acid Enema join forces to offer this split CD. While some split CDs are often "half crap", here both bands offer comparable levels of material, yet very different. Both offer very raw material with minimal production, but in their "market" this is a plus, not a negative. The Xasthur material is pretty much along the lines of the project's first album, very slow-paced with extremely raw guitars that give the songs a very haunting (almost horrific at times) sound with tortured, desperate-sounding screech-type vocals that give an added haunting effect to a music that could already be used as a frightening soundtrack to some cult horror movie. To top this up, a number of very depressing acoustic moments are interspersed within the songs. Needless to say, this is the exact opposite of pop music. ;)

This split is my first exposure to Acid Enema. The music is overall in the same vein as Xasthur's, although the sound is a bit clearer and overall a bit quieter. The vocals are more of the standard BM-type screeches, with added spoken passages here and there. The focus here is on slower music which also includes acoustic passages. The last track is almost just keyboards and drums with whispered vocals. Effective, a drastic change from the rest of the album, and a very good album closer. The Acid Enema tracks don't push things as far as the Xasthur ones but come pretty damn close.

This release will appeal (and is recommended) only to those who are into very raw underground BM - fans of big label names with wimpy keyboards need not apply.

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