![sathanas / deathepoch – hellspawn hegemony [split]](https://www.vm-underground.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sathanas-DeathEpoch-Hellspawn-Hegemony-Split-cover.jpg "Sathanas / DeathEpoch – Hellspawn Hegemony [Split]")
Info
- Band(s): DeathEpoch, Sathanas
- Label(s): Putrid Cult
- Release Format(s): CD, Split
- Release Year: 2023
- Review Date: January 4, 2024
- Author(s): Colin McNamara
It is a old school vs. new school mash up between 80s Black Metal kings Sathanas and the more recently formed Blackened Death Metal group DeathEpoch. Both have a very distinct sound so the album ‘Hellspawn Hegemony’ is split perfectly with plenty of blasphemous, raw material that has excellent groove and headbanging quality. The first five tracks are from Sathanas who have been around since 1988 and are from Pennsylvania of the U.S. Their style is more rooted in the classic Black Metal meets Heavy Metal style with a minimalistic raw tone that would appeal to fans of much older Satyricon or even Dark Throne. While not Crust Punk at all, there is plenty of groove especially in the stellar track ‘Defiled’ which has excellent bass lines. The raw throaty vocals just eviscerate the ears alongside the tremolo picking guitars and the drums are Satan’s thunder to no end. For those who like the more ‘kvlt’ sounding tracks, there is ‘Jaws of Satan’ which has attitude and bite to it (no pun intended), but will appeal to those who like a darker, more raucous approach to Black Metal. The Heavy Metal influences are mostly heard within the solos and tracks like ‘Hail Lucifer’ in the instrumental styling along with some of the vocal work, but don’t expect too much melody with these guys as opposed to just razor sharp riffs and typical Black Metal tropes. They aren’t Cradle of Filth but aren’t Khold either.
The other half rears its ugly head with DeathEpoch from Poland who is just a 2 man group that started in 2020. Their style is more the plodding cavernous style of Death Metal with some Black Metal influences, but like most cavernous styles the roaring vocals tend to overtake everything, so the churning guitar riffs tend to just plod along in repetitive, yet catchy fashion (such as on the track ‘D.W.’ These guys don’t really use titles and just try to be obscure as possible in their sound, but not in a Deathspell Omega kind of way of obscure. One thing these guys do out of left field is go the dancey Industrial route, trying to add a modern touch that is a bit wild and random at times like the opening to ‘G.O.M.’ and then there are more tasteful, Aborym-like approaches such as on ‘I.H.S.’ While a modern addition to help them stand out, DeathEpoch seem to create two halves to their music rather than seamless blending it together. It usually opens with the catchy Industrial and then jumps right into the groove laden Death Metal side. Drums are consistently tapping with some percussive thunder, but when the vocals and guitars go full tilt, it just sounds like a crashing thunderous mosh pit of noise which works in their favor for the most part. Fans of even Doom Metal in the vein of Disembowelment might enjoy them as well because they never really go at a fast, energetic pace like Sathanas does, but more slow to mid pace. The drums carry the faster pace of the music but the guitars and vocals just seem to drift along without much of a care in the world. DeathEpoch are more about steamrolling ears versus going for ear catching solos like Sathanas does. As a result, expect rather repetitious tracks but with catchy, head banging riffs to enjoy.
Between the two, fans will have to decide what they like more. Black Metal fans will probably enjoy Sathanas more for the old school approach, but DeathEpoch might attract a more varied group of listeners on different Metal spectrums with their diverse approach. It isn’t quite as classic or structured as their counterparts, but definitely adds in an interesting, non traditional factor that will appeal to those who are looking for something different and a little ‘out there.’
DeathEpoch
- Country: Poland
- Style: Death Metal, Black Metal
- Links: Facebook, Bandcamp
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Sathanas
- Country: USA
- Style: Death Metal, Black Metal
- Links: Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
