Codex Obscura Nomina

As soon as this split was released I wanted to review it mostly because it contained new music from two of my favorite bands, Blut Aus Nord and Ævangelist . However, I read an interview of Void (Debemur Morti's owner) around the time of the split's release and I realized that such an album would require multiple listens before finally sinking in. Thus I waited and thankfully after half a dozen of listens I still love the outcome.

Blut Aus Nord kick things off with 'Evanescent Hallucinations' which is reminiscent of The Work Which Transforms God era. The guitars sound heavy and murky at the same time. If anything they will also bring back memories of 777 - Sect(s) and 777 - The Desanctification , the latter mostly in the closing track of their side, 'Infra-Voices Ensemble'. During that track, the frantic hip-hop influenced beats are brought back while the guitars revolve around a certain motif. However, the album whose atmosphere is clearly present here is MoRT . Especially in 'Resonnance(s)' which my favorite song on the entire split, the resemblance is striking.

Vindsval worked on this project alone but this not the first time he does so... However he once again achieved to surprise me. The way that Blut Aus Nord's track are structured is admirable despite the fact that this is not the first time that they played in that specific style. The guitar work is minimal but not over simplified and the sound of the guitars alone is quite possibly the best that BaN have achieved in their industrial form. As for the drums, just listen to the aforementioned albums for an idea. Conventional patterns and rhythm in general is partially rejected, while the speed ranges from extremely slow, to the feverish upbeat tempo of their closing track.

Ævangelist on the other hand didn't need four tracks to let the magnitude of their work unfurl. One track for them is more than enough but while BaN's side consist only of 4 to 5 minute tracks it is reasonable for Matron Thorn's band to exceed the 20 minute mark on their side. Rest assured the track will not exhaust the listener (although those who are new to Ævangelist might feel a bit bedazzled by the sound of their track) on the contrary it will incite his curiosity and eagerness for more of their works, both those of the past and those to come in the future.

This is not the first time that Matron Thorn uses those elements present in the track either, but just like the case is with BaN, every time sounds as fresh as the last one. For instance I'm pretty sure that he has used a similar chord progression for his other band, Benighted in Sodom but 'Threshold of the Miraculous' is such an amazing track that I do not mind in the slightest. Ascaris' voice is amazing as well, both during the growling parts and the spoken word parts. I would really like to know if he was the one that recorded those French hip-hop bits. Yes, you understood well, there is a part in Ævangelist's track where the the whole thing just gets of the rails and explores the genre of hip-hop. As for the drumming, it sounds like classic Ævangelist. Blasts and slower parts are all here and even more given the range of styles that they use.

All in all, Codex Obscura Nomina has totally lived up to the hype it received before release and it shall be a reference point for both bands' next endeavors. Well, every BaN release is a reference point for their latter releases but this is another story. For the time being, this split is absolutely worth your attention and you won't regret it if you choose to experience it. The production of both bands' tracks is fantastic and it compliments the music even more. And to give you a picture of how this split feels; imagine of being totally alone in an industrial area, unable to breathe properly and constantly hearing the voices of other people who are NOT there. This is the atmosphere and feeling that you get from the amazingly horrifying split release entitled Codex Obscura Nomina. Seriously listen to this, it is fantastic.

Favorite tracks: Blut Aus Nord : 'Resonnance(s)', 'The Parallel Echöes'. Ævangelist : 'Threshold of the Miraculous'.

90/100.