Tuesday, February 1, 2022

SAIDAN / KLANEN - Split review


 

SAIDAN / KLANEN - Split

Corrupted Flesh Records


First split release of 2022 in for review and it's by two black metal acts. That's always cool. The two bands in question are SAIDAN and KLANEN. Now SAIDAN is a two piece act from Nashville, Tennessee. They've been around for a few years and have a full length, Jigoku: Spiraling Chasms of the Blackest Hell, which came out last year on Obscurant Visions. My younger brother lives in Nashville. He's also a musician but I doubt he's heard of SAIDAN. 


The other band on this split, KLANEN, hails from Virginia and is a one man BM act. Starting out a few years ago KLANEN has garnered a slew of small format releases to his credit and a full length. I give the guy props for his conviction to put out so many releases in a short span of time. 


Now as always when it comes to split releases I like to put the bands in a proverbial bout as in wrestling terms to see who wins. So starting with SAIDAN, they contribute three cuts to this release. Musically they're basic Scandinavian second wave raw BM in style. Half way through their first cut, "Atomic Age", they steal from SLAYER. Plus one of their cuts is an instrumental which is a throwaway to me. Otherwise they pretty much nail the basics of the past via tremolo picked riffs, ice sickle soloing, harsh vocals and basic drum work. Yeah I like em.


Next up are the three cuts from KLANEN. Once again the sound here is basic Scandinavian second wave raw BM style. Then again I own some releases by Greek bands from the 90's who were close to this edge. Vocal style reminds me of some past one man USBM acts. Plenty of hoots, howls and wailing. It's kinda tough to pick a winner here. Both acts have some classic traits which are interesting enough to make ya wanna hear a proper full length. 


I say it's a tie. Collectors of USBM take notice. 


LISTEN HERE:

https://corruptedfleshrecords.bandcamp.com/album/saidan-klanen


No comments: