ENCOFFINATION / SHAMBLES split release

 

ENCOFFINATION / SHAMBLES split release

Selfmadegod Records

I've used a lot of metaphors when it comes to split releases. But I've got a new one and it's 'Buy for One and Get the Second One Free'. And that perfectly explains this release because on here you've got one US band that I'm a huge fan of and another band from Thailand who I've only read about.

So let's start with the new one SHAMBLES who are a four piece blackened death doom act. They contribute two long pieces of hate filled blasphemic brutality. In a way they remind me of IMPIETY from Singapore. SHAMBLES has been around since the late 1990's and have changed their extreme style over the decades. On here they're decent as in something that crawled out from the pits of hell and want to devour you. 

Next up are ENCOFFINATION who I've been a fan of since their Ritual Ascension Beyond Flesh full length came out in 2010. By the way that was also released on CD by Selfmadegod Records. Bias Alert? Sure why not because years ago I learned that ENCOFFINATION were not only slow and pure death doom but listening to one of their full lengths and a day would be over with. 

Case in point what SHAMBLES does in ten to eleven minutes on this split release. ENCOFFINATION takes under six minutes and it feels like a half hour has past by. If you listened to the whole ENCOFFINATION discography in a row you would think two years had passed you by. Yeah I'm talking about riffs with cobwebs and dust upon em. I'm talking about cavernous bestial vocals that sound like the snores from a hibernating grizzly bear.

As always there's got to be a winner in a split release, much like a wrestling match. On here ENCOFFINATION just fuckin rule. 

https://selfmadegod.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://selfmadegod.bandcamp.com/album/split-cd-smg-368

OLDSKULL - Nether Hollow of No Return review

 

OLDSKULL - Nether Hollow of No Return

Inhuman Assault Productions

When I was researching this band I learned that they're part of something called the Siamese Brutalism collective. That's basically a bunch of death metal, grindcore and goregrind musicians based in Thailand. Their motto is WE BRING YOU MOST UTTER PAIN!!!!! Personally I think that's worth the price of admission. But hey the music is pretty damm good as well. 

OLDSKULL hail from the great eastern nation of Thailand. Their brand of extreme on this their debut full length is death metal. Better yet it's old school influenced. Even better is that sound wise they're a cross between GRAVE and OBITUARY. It's kinda like a hidden gem from 1990. 

OLDSKULL are a five piece act and all members are schooled in the old ways of the genre. The vocals are deep angry bellows. The riffs have that crunch to em. Lead work is a mix of melodic sweeps and short sharp shocks. The rhythm section has a steady and organic sound pounding away. 

This debut has nine cuts, well eight and a closing instrumental. It's an amazing release and hearkens back to the classic era. I like every song on here, the instrumental is OK. But songs like "Perpetual Void", "None Shall Live", "Execution Temple" and "Arcane Serpents" are at perfection level for my old school tastes. This is definitely one of my favorite releases of 2021.

https://inhumanassault.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://inhumanassault.bandcamp.com/album/nether-hollow-of-no-return