Pesanta Urfolk

This split-album - and indeed, I am directly going ‘into’ the actual review - starts with three tracks (Deonte, Oblitus and Dolore) by Salem, Oregon-based act Hell, a solo-outfit of former Merkstave and Elu Of The Nine member M.S.W. Once again, his contribution is an aural definition of desperation, suffering and anger, translated via slow-paced tunes of Drone, Sludge, Funeral Doom and Black Metal.

This split-album - and indeed, I am directly going ‘into’ the actual review - starts with three tracks (Deonte, Oblitus and Dolore) by Salem, Oregon-based act Hell, a solo-outfit of former Merkstave and Elu Of The Nine member M.S.W. Once again, his contribution is an aural definition of desperation, suffering and anger, translated via slow-paced tunes of Drone, Sludge, Funeral Doom and Black Metal.

Aha...another act in the “Denver Sound” sub-genre, but this time with electrified guitar! Oh well, Baltimore (Maryland) may be somewhat removed from Colorado, but The Sterling Sisters dó combine elements of Gothic, Country, Neo-Folk, and Dark Americana!

Weird name for a band, won't you agree? Well, lemme elucidate.

Merkstave are a new Oregon-based act with experienced members (formerly or currently active in e.g. Velnias, Oak, Leech, Mania, Hell etc.). There were two demos in the recent past (which seemed to escape from my attention, and I am oh so sad about this), but this self-called debut full length will lift this band to the top of the Funeral-oriented Doom-scene. At least, I will help to do so, even though this review deals with a very limited vinyl-edition.

As a matter of fact, this second Ash Borer-album was released on CD in 2012 through Profound Lore, and now Pesanta Urfolk are to re-release the material on vinyl. The double-long player will be available in two versions: 323 copies on 200 mg slipcase-edition, and as ‘normal’ 160 mg black vinyl (unlimited).

Hell? Welcome!

This project is a solo-outfit by someone called M.S.W., and under the Hell-moniker, he recorded two full lengths, all of them released on cassette format only. This third one, ingeniously called III, will be released on vinyl as well, albeit in a very limited edition of 472 copies only.