With 6 Ways Of Hell, Satanath Records, undoubtedly one of the most important Russian labels lately, collects six bands from the Far East and the South-East of Asia. Each of them comes with two tracks. And totally within the vein of the label, there is quite some difference in sonic approach.
6 Ways Of Hell starts with two pieces by Barzakh, an Indonesian duo that started at the end of last century. However, they were not that active at all for almost one decade; their latest album was released in 2007. But now they sort of return with two new (?) pieces. Nightmare Of The Cult and In The Sanctity Of Abject stand for very powerful and highly melodic Black Metal with a general traditional approach. Both pieces are mainly fast and do include elements from the Blaspheme Death Metal scene. But the focus lies on fierce, warlike conviction, with, as mentioned before, that characterizing melodic approach. The latter has to do with several fabulous leads and, more to the background, memorable melodious and epic waves of sound, nicely supported by a plain yet decent rhythm section and throaty screams (+ some guttural grunts). Barzakh surely are not original, but these guys convince with their stuff! 8,5/10
As the name might suggest, Goresluts are rather to be put under the ‘Death / Grind’-file. This Malaysian band did modestly surprise with last year’s full length Divisi Panji Merah, and both tracks on this split are taken from that album. Both songs might remind the listener to the scene’s mid-nineties era, with the North-American one coming to mind especially, I think. Nice is the injection of some slowed-down passages as well as the structurally well-thought leads / solos, which make this band not just some uninspired and chaotic bunch of empty-headed grind-freaks. 8/10
Horrific Disease are a pretty young band from Japan, that recently released their full length debut via Satanath Records. I think it’s evident you might expect a review on this album in a near future. Both tracks on this split, by the way, will be part of that studio recording too, so this is what you can expect on Outbreak, which is that album’s title. What these guys bring is a form of Crust / Punk-laden Grindcore with a no-nonsense approach and… Well, I did mention ‘Punk’, so that’s the atmosphere you have to cope with. Riff-wise, and also when thinking about the guitar lines, there is some influence from the (East-European) Death Metal scene as well, with hints of trans-European Thrash (era Eighties!) penetrating the whole experience – especially The Pissed Punisher goes on that very way. 7/10
Next are Thailand-based Savage Deity, also a pretty new band that released a full length in 2013 (but I haven’t heard it, so I can’t say anything about it). Here too, both songs are taken from that full album. They perform a kind of old schooled Death Metal I haven’t experienced anymore in more than two decades. It’s blaspheme, morbid, doomish and still melodious, with quite a sinister and macabre atmosphere / sound. A massive rhythm section and fierce guitar leads, malignant grunts and thrashing solos interact well with each other, and I start craving for some revival of the late eighties / earlier nineties. Right now, once again, I’m experiencing some demo tape déjà-vu, if you know what I mean. And that’s meant the positive way! 8,5/10
The sonic terror continues with two pieces by Shadowmirth, a four-piece hailing from the small country Brunei (I know the country because I am smart, but do you…?...). I hadn’t heard of Shadowmirth before, but apparently they do exist for quite some time, and the members are or were involved in different (local) acts before too. The sound is very bad, unfortunately, but the intentions aren’t that bad at all. Though, I have the impression these guys are trying too much to sound like their ‘heroes’, whoever they might be. The compositions, I mean the song writing as well as the performance, are all right, but unfortunately it cannot convince undersigned that much. For sure I have heard worse stuff, but this band isn’t able to define the essence of the scene sonically. Yes, there is quite some variety for sure, and yes, these guys are trying very hard; but it is not enough, I am afraid… 6,5/10
The split ends with two new compositions by Singapore-based entity Suicidal. This band is active for more than a decade and pretty influential within the South-Eastern Asian scene (but not in the Western Worlds, at least: not yet). Here too the sound quality isn’t acceptable, but I do forgive them for their Black Metal is of the traditional, classical kind, yet executed with craftsmanship, experience, conviction and pride. The material is both melodic and fast, akin the Second Wave trend, yet with quite, eh, ‘different’ vocal lines. I do also appreciate the rhythm section a lot, although you really need to listen very concentrated, because the sound quality, once again, lacks of satisfaction. Underground is one thing, but mud is mud, even the sonic way, you see… I know, quite a plastic description, but right to the point. Suicidal try to pay tribute to the core of the Old School, and despite being renewing, they sort of succeed to. At the other hand, one might miss an own-faced identity, or some distinctive influences from their local origins, and that’s a might-have-been, I think. 7,5/10