Split releases are deliciously old school – the perfect way to discover two or more bands with a single purchase. Within the underground Black Metal scene, they never truly disappeared and have even been making a comeback in recent years.
Like this split tape between the American Black Metal acts Occult Blood and Carrion Bloom– one hailing from Oregon, the other from sunny California.
Occult Blood started out in 2017, and this split marks their fourth release. Sound-wise, they dwell firmly in the raw 90s corner: furious and harsh. The production is on point, giving the whole thing a sinister edge that, to my ears, sounds very European.
The vocals of Skeld, who until 2021 also handled the guitar, come across even more intense than on their The Room in the Ground EP. The highlight of their side of the tape is undoubtedly the opener Amulet of Vendzad – a truly killer track.
On to side B: Carrion Bloom, who have been spewing their Black Metal/Punk hybrid into the world for several years now. Just last year they dropped a surprising split with the filthy Death/Grind maniacs Piss Baptism. Style-wise, they differ somewhat from Occult Blood, with punk elements seeping through the wall of Black Metal riffs, all tied together by their shrieking vocals. Once again, we get some killer tracks that definitely leave you hungry for more.
With this split, both bands prove they’re ready to take the next step toward a full-length album. The question is when – because both certainly deserve it, each in their own way.
Both: 85/100
Occult Blood:
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Carrion Bloom:
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