On this split CD The Rituals of Possession in Blasphemy , the both thus far entirely unknown Polnish bands Thanathron and Empheris are appeared.

Thanathron disclaims unison and let's go immediately with the opener Hiarra . The beginning is sluggish and powerful, the stringed instruments are toned darkly and so it sounds a little bit like stale Death Metal. But not later than the insert of vocals, being very distorted but calm and slow, the Death Metal afflicted impression is vanishing. Hiarra gets faster, occasionally very fast and catching passages can be heard, that are taken off by slow and mid-tempi arrangements. Anywhere you can also hear a short melodic soli.
Swords of Megiddo is urged on fast from the first beat. The dark stings aren't so massive anymore, instead of this a shrill toned lead guitar is heard distinctly, that phase is responsible either the catching riffs or melodic facets. Even a harmonious, discreet soli is heard. It's striking early, that Thanathron plays guitar accentuating Metal, but style-overlapping. Analogously stratified it continues on Zaplona Stosy , beginning aggressive and fast, but afterwards is getting slower in the midpart and more relaxed by the melodic played lead guitar, before it finally gets energetic again. The following track The Dawn Will Never Come is a covered Infernum song, so it doesn't attend me, if it wouldn't stand in the title. It fits definitely the guitar dominated metal Thanathron's with its simple basic characteristic and changes between fast and slow passages.
The both after the Outro following songs Dzien Chwaly and Destroyer are taken from promotional material and don't belong to the Hiarra EP, as the previous songs. Dzien Chwaly is more intensive and faster. The guitars don't sound so deep and dark, for that the drumming is now more agile and thrashy. Destroyer however sounds more like an aggressive, slight chaotic striking rehearsal. Thanathron doesn't seem to find its individual style yet.

Empheris also sounds slightly old-fashioned, although it's entirely in another matter then Thanatron . After the brief introduction Crossing the Fields Of Ante-Hell is faded away it's rumbling magnificently fast and catching on Flamethorns . Behind the stomping drums only less, single riffs of a guitar are heard, the vocals are dull and deep, so Flamethorns sounds above all as an old Death Metal band, that you know from elder times but can't remind anymore. This doesn't last so far, than shortly a perfectly the calm middle passages fitting guitar melody is ringing in the change. The drum is rattling, the hollow, deep singing is abandoned to a hoarse and shrill voice and so Empheris sounds as pure Metal. The following Let's Kill rather sounds more like Black Metal, because of the very catching fast beat and the also distorted vocals. The Venom cover “Lady Lust” is right close to the original, it's definitely recognizing, that this is no Empheris self composition.
Necropulsar is descended from another studio session, what evidently can be heard. The sound is clearer and more professional, but also structural Necropulsar makes a developed impression. The basic rhythm is rather fast; the guitars act extremely compact and provide next to the manifold breaks a certain diversity. Somewhat Necropulsar reminds me of their compatriots of Kriegsmaschine: fantastic song!
Shattered Desires refers to a live track, according to that is the sound. Vocals and the drum machinery are too loud and though guitars and bass are too much slight. Closing, it follows a rehearsal with Descending Hellish Avenger , which strident-rough sound and the hereupon resulting atmosphere is reminding me at the Norwegian Raven.

You can say summarizing, that The Rituals of Possession in Blasphemy is a much diversified split release. Both bands are acting on behalf of different material of several recordings, so quality is strongly alternating. Although Thanathron shows interesting and hear able promises, this contribution can't convince so far. Empheris however I am pleased to and I hope you'll hear more of this band sometime.


Aceust

(Translation by: G.P.)

THANATHRON
01. Hiarra
02. Swords of Megiddo
03. Zaplona stosy
04. The dawn will never come (Infernum Cover)
05. Outro
06. Dzien chwaly
07. Destroyer

EMPHERIS
08. Crossing the fields of ante-hell
09. Flamethorns
10. Let's kill
11. Lady lust (Venom Cover)
12. Necropulsar
13. Shattered desires (Live)
14. Descending hellish avenger (Rehearsal)


THANATHRON
KERZAKRAUM RECORDS