You really thought that after three splits and as much singles and albums (plus a compilation of all those random tracks) in ten years MORDBRAND would start to slow things down didn’t you? You fool! They’re about to once again renew their collaboration with DOOMENTIA, which got kickstarted with the ‘Unmake’ EP in April 2013, with another slab of their very own crusty yet twisted brand of Swedish death-metal but this time sharing the wax with the GRAVEHILL boys from Los Angeles, California.
Business as usual then? Nah, no quite. Conceived as stand alone EPs (each with their own cover artwork and title) each side marks a new step in both band’s (d)evolution. While still raging, MORDBRAND’s half – dubbed ‘In Nighted Waters’ and featuring a spooky T. Ketola artwork – has a newly acquired creepy subdued vibe, as suggested by the atmospheric keyboards layers that engulf opener “Decimation Reigns”. As a special treat to both longtime obscure DM fans and those who acquire this split, they’ve also recorded their own, rearranged version of BLUUURGH’s “Compost Christ” (from their 1990 ‘Suffer Within’ EP) with GRAVEHILL former frontman Mike Abominator on the backing vocals.
As far GRAVEHILL, ‘Skullbearer’ is kind of a new start for them. Fear not, their OTT black/thrash is as relentless as ever but since their great’ 2014 ‘Death Curse’ album, there’s been few changes in their camp, with a new lead guitarist in tow and Mike Abominator having handed the microphone to their bass player Corpse who, in turned, got replaced on the four-strings department by their former guitarist Bodybag Bob (are you still with us?!). But since their founding member Thorgrimm is still cracking the whip, you can be sure they’ve lost none of their intensity. And those four new tracks (plus a faithful yet vicious cover of BATHORY’s “Sacrifice”) will remind everybody while they’re still the most METAL band on the whole West Coast. Hail and kill!!!
https://mordbrand.bandcamp.com/
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