Three Polish bands made a pact on 'Chapel of Fear'. This split album offers only new material from each of the bands, and not some old demo material for example, and is of course a good thing. The split simply packaged, just the same black candles photo on each of four pages on the booklet, band logos, song titles, lineups and some composing / recording info printed. The lyrics would have been nice. As it is now, it's a bit too obscure in informative way. Surely, the music is what matters, so about it now.

Primal is a one-man project by The Primal One. His three songs are the longest in duration, clocking between 8-10+ minutes. Starting with hellish organ playing, 'Nadczłowiek' soon presents gloomy and shivery black metal. Primal's speciality is matching two or more songs or sonical scapes together, creating incongruous atmosphere in the songs, which still in some perverted way feels right at times. Sound effects, lots of illogical music and echoing droughty shriek-growl add more to the repellent atmosphere, which must have been the goal for The Primal One. Albeit there are a lot of riffs and parts in the songs, it gets repetitive at some points. Simpler riffs clash with faster bits. Primal sound nasty and uneasy.

Iugulatus attack with loads of nasty riffing, barking growl vocals and varying rhythmics. Death metal and thrashier moments are alloyed with dark blackened vibes. Iugulatus can be both brutal and groovy, creating a very inviting mood. The band features Markiz from Deep Desolation, and his playing style can be heard. Saw-like guitars remind of Immolation at times, but Iugulatus have been able to make quite individual sounding music. Pounding rhythm section offers solid bottom end. Even though all three songs are around 6-7 minutes long, Iugulatus part on the split flies very fast, unlike Primal's do. Iugulatus sound barbarously energetic and catchy as hell, plus timeless.

Deep Desolation have influences, that date back to 1960s-1970s. 'Chapel of Fear' begins with surprising grooviness, somehow reminding me of old Cathedral. Pretty a bit different when compared to their debut 'Subliminal Visions' (2010), even though the song travels through psychedelic dimensions, where time is not. Blackish atmospheres are also reached. Another band with long songs, but still the music's adapting nature saves Deep Desolation from drowning into waters of boredom. 'Satanic Orgy' is classic doom metal. The vocals are varying growling, made to suit different parts (Carcass' Jeff Walker is what clearly come to my mind). Deep Desolation end up being the most melodic one of the three bands here.

All three bands are more or less different to each other, but perfectly fit together on a split album. 'Chapel of Fear' is a ghastly trip through dark desolate sonicscapes, and if you enjoy such sounds and want to find new bands, I suggest you hunt this one down.

Rating: 7- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/27/2011 18:09