Kalte Visionen / Hell on Earth

The german underground is a living thing, which is always spewing out new bands and their releases. In most cases the enjoyment of those nameless and countless projects is about completely worthless or even annoying. Lord Themgoroth and Askuror are two of those underground projects, unnoticed by a very wide audience, not offering any revolutions in music or ideas (otherwise they would have been noticed by some more people, isn't it?), yet producing black metal songs of undeniable quality in their limits. They do not gain any new ground with their styles, but if you plan your next bargain to be a low-price release, I'd recommend this split.

Askuror – Kalte Visionen

Askurors music is fairly interesting. Even before the vocals start one can classify it as belonging to the german school of black metal, including a somehow indescribable pagan touch without being pagan. Well, somehow the lyrics are pagan, circling about the return to the roots of the german tribes and how the elite of this planet should behave against the mass. The music after all dispenses with the so called "pagan" pomp which can be found in other bands of this genre. This is straight black metal, not comparable even to bands like Fornost, Andras or Obscurity.

The mixing is acceptably rough and primitive, as the songs are. It's the underground, you know, it has got to be this way. Askuror work this out quite well, not trying to be too harsh or anything else. They're just being themselves and convince the listener of their misanthropy and truly felt emotions towards their music. As far as it concerns the instruments, everything seems to be, where it belongs and does a solid job. The used drumcomputer of course is no divine revelation, rumbling and stuttering in the background in a quite unoriginal way.

Thorkraft's Vocals are not the best ever to be heard too, but somehow it is their credit to make the music somehow original. Stertorousness is the best thing to compare them to, uttered in an upset and angry way. Adding a somehow moving and authentic atmosphere by doing this, Askuror are able to entrain the listener in their world, where all noneworthy humanity is wiped out.

Summing up Askuror lack of ideas and musical techniques, but they can enchant you in hatred and misanthropic solitude. Solid and good, yet not fascinating.
-68%

Lord Themgoroth – Hell on Earth

Inferring from this release to anything from Lord Themgoroths discography seems to be impossible, as "Wrath of Thy Black Emperor" arrestingly demonstrates – this to be said first. "Hell on Earth" is a solid part of this split. Not more, but nothing less too.

Comparing Lord Themgoroth to Judas Iscariot would go too far, yet there are some parallels noticeable. The songwriting with the unagitated riffs, that concentrate on the created athmosphere is one of those. Always keeping mid-speed is, too. But there's one big difference: Judas Iscariot chose to be simple, Lord Themgoroth had to be so. This entails a lack of athmopshere, which is the only thing the music really offers. As you might have guessed, outstanding technical skills cannot be expected.

I do not want to rip Lord Themgoroth off, because this release offers solid songs, which are nice listening to. They are neither very memorable nor resourceful. This style of black metal can be heard a thousand times, copying the norwegian days of the second wave flavoured with some US-ideas. The music is enjoyable, yet far away from must-have. The raw vocals are the only thing to get annoyed from, all the rest simply exists, or doesn't, it's okay either way.
- 59%

Brought together the split deserves getting solid 65%, because this is the best way to describe it. It is likeable, but not essential for your collection. The heightened intersection I justify by the bands' authenticity.