With two of the heaviest doom bands from Richmond, Virginia, joining forces for this split release, you know that you're in for an experience of sludgy pure misery (mind you that misery is a good thing in the world of doom metal).
Cough contributes with one track – namely, the 18:00 mammothian opus 'Athame'. This track takes the listener on a long journey through crushingly heavy riffs and slow drumbeats. Minimalistic, yet darkly psychedelic and bizarrely epic, this track should be a hard, chewy caramel stick for any fan of slow music. What I enjoy in particular is that there is a strict sense of order in this song. You know, typically with music this slow, the musicians tend to be sloppy, which results in a sludgy and muddy sound. But not Cough. There is no sloppiness here – just heaviness, doom and gloom.
The two Windhand tracks, 'Amaranth' and 'Shepherd's Crook', are, given that they are shorter, less epic, but in a way more dense, than 'Athame', because they are much more minimalistic. 'Shepherd's Crook' for instance builds on a couple of very similar slow and heavy figures being repeated excessively. With the use of atmospheric organ effects and psychedelic vocals, the two Windhand tracks have an almost entrancing effect. The production is also a bit more fuzzy, but, as with Cough, Windhand do deliver their doom and gloom with military precision.
This is a split which is defintiely worth acquiring if you are a devoted fan of slow and heavy doom metal.
Tracklist:
Cough:
1. Athame
Windhand:
2. Amaranth
3. Shepherd's Crook