When is a three way split album not a three way split album? When two of the bands are the same one gent is when.
This is an entirely instrumental album from, dare I say it, two masters of enthralling music with roots in the UK black metal scene. Two tracks each from Bleakwinter Shrine and Arx Artrata separated by short ambient pieces from Arx Silvestris.
‘Desolation ‘ from Bleakwinter Shrine opens the album, a slow doomy beginning with a rough post rock edge to the guitar before the tempo picks up and the black metal sound with a dipping melody takes hold. It is certainly a grim track, conjuring both violence and loss in a blizzard perhaps. A passage of bewilderment as the consequences of some tragedy perhaps reveals itself. Oh, I don’t know, but this is music that definitely fosters these images with its skilfully woven sound. It’s that adept.
‘Solitude’ is a cold night interlude, before the next Bleakwinter Shrine passage ‘Surmounting’ creeps in on sparse bodhran and acoustic guitar developing into the kind of determined journey that Saor or Fellwarden craft, a harsh but determined stride with that bleakness but beauty of a landscape manifesting itself in a heart stretching melody.
‘Quiessence’ leads us to ‘Retribution’ from the deft hands of Arx Atrata. With their echoing, plucked guitar notes sliding into a slow riff we get a sense of a careful, perhaps even stealthy passage before a gorgeous melody, full of determination and of strangely sinister undertone takes us deeper. An assassin picking their way through trees, caves, passages. Perhaps the clue is in the title indeed.
‘Justice’ is served by Arx Silvestris in a cool moment, a hint of the windswept, before the considered opening notes of Arx Atrata ‘Succession’ whisper and then the insistent drums drive us on as the epic melody promises both survival and even a new beginning perhaps. Gorgeous melody as ever from Arx Atrata, thoughtful and with a vein of melancholy, take us onwards to whatever life offers next.
This is not really a split album for me. This is much more a collaboration, two fine musicians and storytellers weaving a tale without words for the listener to follow. I always feel that both projects are far too often overlooked in the UK but this is just a perfect introduction to both, and a unique entity all in one.
Excellent.
(8.5/10 Gizmo)
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