Four bands from the black metal underground present themselves together on this 4-way split CD; two from the U.S. of A. (Kult ov Azazel and Humanicide), one from Sweden (Obitus) and one from France (Thy Lord, not to be confused with the Estonian band with the same name). Already released in 2001, yet we received it a short while ago and don’t want to withhold new bands from you, as that is our core value! There are two bands that stand out; opening acts Kult ov Azazel and Obitus. Two of the four tracks of Obitus are also on their “Coup de Grâce” MCD (review here), although they have been remastered.

Kult ov Azazel opens with furious US black metal in the line of Krieg, Judas Iscariot and Malicious; furious, desperate and primitive! Yet also the slow, heavy parts are mastered in the way it should be! To put it short, one of the more promising true black American bands. Like said, two of the four of Obitus’ tracks have been remastered. Apart from that we got note that the track mentioned as ‘Eternal Damnation’is actually ‘Endless Dark Tormentors’; the opening track of their “Coup de Grâce” MCD. Fast Swedish black metal for those who like Marduk and Limbonic Art; not so grim, yet very promising…

Weakest band is Humanicide; it sounds underground alright, yet far too simple (especially the drumming) and it totally lacks any feel of grim coldness, a must if you want to play underground dark black metal. Now it comes down to just some punkish old school black metal played without feelings of despair, hate and anger… Thy Lord from France is a one man project in the veins of the black metal that would never have been there if Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Bathory hadn’t there; this music comes out of the dungeons of bands like old Darkthrone and Tangorodrim, yet with lesser impact… And a pity that the sound is mixed in that soft, until 4th track (‘Maggots Never Surrender’).