Mortiferum/Hyperdontia - Split 7"

Labels: Carbonized Records/Me Saco Un Ojo Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 07 Dec 2020

Tracklist:

1. Mortiferum - Abhorrent Genesis

2. Hyperdontia - Punctured Soul

This split 7" was one of most heavily talked about splits of the closing months of 2020, not least because it contained a song each from US death/doom band Mortiferum and Turkish/Danish death metal band Hyperdontia. It was released early December via both rising US label Carbonized Records and ever-growing UK label Me Saco Un Ojo Records. Both bands are helping to lead the charge of old-school death/doom metal from the last decade and into this one. 

Please excuse me for switching the bands around in the title. I always put the opening band at the start, irrespective of where the first letter of their name appears in the alphabet. Mortiferum’s take of death/doom here, ‘Abhorrent Genesis’, is a gloomy and dank take on the sub-genre with low growls, guitar/bass that sit very deep in the recording at times and percussion that takes the lead. It’s a hellish image that’s created here but one that’s not without it’s charm. Definitely leaning further towards the old-school.

Hyperdontia’s side of this split also presents a gloomy outlook, but with a bigger slice of groove. They are more technical and ‘Punctured Soul’ contains many tempo-changes and more pronouced melody, whereas Mortiferum ploughs a much deeper furrow. There’s a sort of controlled-chaos element to the instrumentation here, especially when the drums and guitars up the pace. The vocals again are low growls but are much more dominant within the mix. 

This is a filthy split release that single-handedly reflects the harsh slog that was 2020. Both Mortiferum and Hyperdontia very much have their own sounds and they deliver death/doom that’s as dark and terrifying as you’d expect. 

You can stream the respective tracks below via both Mortiferum's and Hyperdontia's bandcamp pages:-

Mortiferum - https://www.instagram.com/mortiferum.official/

Hyperdontia - https://www.facebook.com/hyperdontia

Tape copies of the split can be purchased from Carbonized Records here - https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com/merch

Carbonized Records - https://www.facebook.com/carbonizedrecords

Me Saco Un Ojo Records - https://www.facebook.com/mesacounojo

Scolex/Mortuous - Split 7"

Labels: Carbonized Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 31 Oct 2018

Tracklist:

1. Scolex - Black Pyramid Ritual

2. Mortuous - Desiccated

I'm moving back into more familiar territory now with a review of the soon-to-be-released split 7" featuring Californian death metal bands Scolex and Mortuous, which is being release by new US label Carbonized Records. Scolex has been plying their horror-filled death trade since 2010 with their only previous release being the self-released EP "Torn From Beyond" from 2013. Mortuous has been a band for a similar period of time, putting out two demos in 2010 and 2012 respectively, before unleashing their debut full-length "Through Wilderness" earlier this year via Carbonized Records and Tankcrimes. Both bands include personnel with years of experience within the US death metal scene.

This split contains two ripping and disgusting death metal tracks. Black Pyramid Ritual by Scolex is a filled with old-school mid-paced riffs, low dirty growls and a rumbling low-end that will have you running for cover. Scolex’s music is also technical, but not in an overbearing way. It’s more of the thrashing and headbanging variety, with lead work that’s more Autopsy than Cynic. 

Mortuous presents an even bleaker image via Desiccated with a sound that’s even more rooted into the deepest depths of the extreme old-school. The percussion is deeper in the mix, the vocals are delivered via deep gargled rasps, while the guitars themselves still provide melody and riffs aplenty. 

While these two tracks aren’t enough to just both bands on, this split shows that the ever moving US death metal production line is continuing to spit out bands with the chops and technical prowess too hard to ignore. Scolex and Mortuous are both excellent and keep the fires burning. 

The full split is streaming here - http://www.metalinjection.net/av/full-album-stream/scolex-and-mortuouss-new-split-leaves-nothing-but-charred-remains

Scolex - https://www.facebook.com/DeathMetalScolex/

Mortuous - https://www.facebook.com/mortuous/

Pre-orders for the both physical and digital copies can be placed via the below sites:-

https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/scolex-mortuous

http://carbonizedrecords.storenvy.com

Carbonized Records - https://www.facebook.com/Carbonized-Records