Drekavac / Orgy Of Carrion – Drekavac / Orgy Of Carrion [Split]

After a quick start in their early career, Orgy Of Carrion produced a considerable amount output of a handful of releases per year, but in the second half of their existence, the pace dropped considerably, 2023 even bringing us only one split. Although the year 2024 is only young, we have already been presented with a good and surprising EP. This latest instalment Orgy Of Carrion shares with their compatriots of Drekavac, a band that has also been around for some time but has also maintained a more leisurely pace for several years, its last achievement being 2021’s debut album. This split therefore represents an excellent time to reconnect with both bands.

First up is Drekavac, which features Dread (also known for his (former) work in Astral Crypt Of Moloch, Corpse Desecration, Spiral Staircase, Sloth and Hemdale etc.) on vocals and drums. The band might not have been active in the last couple of years, but judging from the music on offer, Drekavac didn’t lose anything of their former potential. Despite the fact that their take on the genre has never really produced anything quite earth-shattering or genre-defining, Drekavac can nevertheless be counted among the better bands in the Raw/Lo-Fi Black Metal scene. The five new songs the band contribute to this split fall into that same category, the gritty production and ear-piercing guitar sound fitting right into the tradition the band has previously showcased. Once again, it is a mostly riff-driven affair, with the oppressive atmosphere playing an important role. That atmosphere is largely determined by the production, which once again places the band within the cavernous Lo-Fi confines of Black Metal. The music may be less specifically identifiable, but it is definitely a solid and welcome return from Drekavac.

The second part of the split is Orgy Of Carrion’s, a band that has always intrigued me for their way of getting harshness into new dimensions of hypnotizing allure. Yet, with their latest offering, the January 2024 released ‘Rusted Gateways’-EP, the band showcased a slightly different approach as opposed to the band’s earliest output. The somewhat mechanical and sterile sound in combination with the staccato drums reminded me most of the bands from the Les Légions Noires in general and mid-period Mütiilation more specifically. Still a hint of the band’s riff-driven atmospheric nature peaked through, but mostly the seven minutes of ‘Rusted Gateways’ led me to think the band was onto a slightly different musical course. But, the four tracks on this split LP are way more in line with the older Orgy Of Carrion recordings and feel much more organic again. The atmospheric nature shines through each of their songs, but especially in the slower tracks like ‘To Flourish With The Dead’ they make a grand return. This doesn’t only make these new tracks a great addition to the band’s discography, but also makes you wonder if the songs on ‘Rusted Gateways’ were just a one-off experiment, as both sessions were recorded around the same periods in time. Time will tell, but either way, both recent Orgy Of Carrion releases are very much worth the effort and while the Raw Black Metal “hype” or “trend” seems to be calmed down a little as of late, Orgy Of Carrion proves to be still on top of their game.