Alaric / Atriarch: Split LP

The first of Alaric's three tracks, 'Memory Assault', has a Killing Joke/Joy Division feel to the atmospheric rolling drums, effect-laden, twisted guitar arpeggios, and the pained vocals. But as the track moves into its more "song-like" second half, the track limps its way through and finally stumbles and collapses into a heap before track two, the equally dreary 'So Far Down' does much of the same, i.e., very little. Structurally it follows the same pattern and the latter half bears an almost euphoric misery that quickly sinks back into the murk. And, yep, you guessed it, final track 'Weep' does the same. Morose? Tick. Plodding? Yup. Interesting? Nope. Alaric's three mid-tempo tracks are too similar to convey whatever it is they are intended to. Atriarch's two tracks curiously sound the same as Alaric, as if they were one and the same band, and do just as little. The second of their tracks, 'Offerings', saves itself from certain death by plunging into black metal, yet still the whole thing feels subdued, as if inexplicably oppressed by its own makers. The atmospheric intros are good – definitely not great – but what they promise isn't fulfilled. Nowhere near. The lethargic pace and the flat, uninspired delivery are drab. It's like depressive black metal without the black or the metal but plenty of the depression, if only in the disappointing listening experience…

Track Listing:

1. Memory Assault
2. So Far Down
3. Weep
4. Oblivion
5. Offerings

Added: May 12th 2012
Reviewer: Jason Guest
Score:
Related Link: 20 Buck Spin (Record Label)
Hits: 2433
Language: english

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