CURSE/SYKDOM

Split discs sometimes work, sometimes don't, and always provide more exposure to a band's music than it may get otherwise. Here is a case of a split on which the music of the two acts, CURSE and SYKDOM, flow seamlessly and almost seem like it was written during a coordinated session, which is, of course, not the case. Collectively, the disc conveys an air of dread that is somehow as elegant as it is frightening.

The first half of the split comes from SYKDOM and is titled "Verden of Fanden". (Yes, the order of the band listings and album titles are correct, but the music on the disc itself is in reverse order). Recorded as an "interim bridge" between "Under Krigen" and the next full-length album, SYKDOM's half of the disc begins with the obligatory organ intro "Verden" (the disc closes the same way with outro "Fanden") before bursting into "Doedsens Stillhet (The Mortal Quiet)" a driving black metal tune with choral/chanting pieces and what one might term a Viking-(metal)-esque melody. The keyboard melodies on the track, as well as "Hvit Loegn (The Big Lie)", approach the enchanting, albeit, in a grim sort of way. A steadier cadence and the ethereality of the title track (translated to "The World and the Devil") bring the work of XASTHUR to mind, while "Stjernene (The Stars)" launches with a rock-ish guitar riff before morphing into a more traditional black metal number until returning to a groove-based riffing.

Atmosphere is the name of the game for Iceland's CURSE. "In Life & In Death, Parts II – V" is essentially a single song, broken up into four tracks, totally 20 minutes. Though "Part I" charges with black metal might, the two parts that follow are of the atmospheric black metal variety. "Part IV" in particular is a grand song with piano and an effective guitar harmony line that sits back in the mix a bit, while "Part V" picks up the pace again, with another solid harmony to boot.

"In Life & Death/Verden og Fanden" is a nicely assembled split release that goes not blow the mind, but still offers the discerning listener something more than run of the mill black metal. The contributions from each act should be enough to spark your interest in past and forthcoming releases.