I’ve been finding lately that splits coming out in the last several years have been reminding everyone why they are a cool, and slightly more affordable, way to showcase music for the masses. DISKORD and ATVM teamed up to put together thirty-five minutes of their brands of death metal on this collective effort, forever known as Bipolarities (Transcending Obscurity Records).
The Norwegian three-piece, DISKORD, starts off with four tracks of some frantic death metal and then the Londoners, ATVM, finish strong with two journeys of a more progressive yet still deathly ilk. It may have taken a few times through for it to click, but this is a fun ride.
“Onward! To Nowhere” starts off Bipolarities with about thirty seconds of a psychedelic-type of intro before hitting the switch and bringing the double bass drumming and stop-go guitar riffs. Gradually the song slows down to a breakdown just shy of two minutes but quickly picks right back up to close the track.
“Cogged Pother” closes out DISKORD’s songs but does not go quietly. Frantic guitar riffs and exquisitely disgusting drumming and bass work puts the strange audible picture in an abstract frame. After a short guitar solo, a breakdown comes in to signal that the end is nigh. The frantic nature of the first half of the track returns (and some cowbell!) to shut the door.
“Cancer” is the opener from ATVM and they waste no time getting right to the point. The first passage after the whacky bass intro is a straightforward death metal section with tons of speed to get the heart racing. A later passage has a very uneasy guitar riff that ends up hitting double time and gives off a real sense of anxiety.
“Morphine” closes out the split and once again, pedal to the metal on go. Suddenly at about the two-minute mark, the rhythm completely changes into what feels like a Salsa beat before returning back to the aggression and speed. If you liked the Salsa, more of it returns just past the five-minute mark complete with a bass break, light percussion, and maracas. Even a guitar solo pops in to join in on the fun. The ending spot is a nice, smooth jazz section to put you at ease.
Real interesting takes on death metal from two different bands on one recording session. DISKORD and ATVM are certainly worth looking into after hearing Bipolarities. I recommend if you’ve read this far, and don’t mind letting the music grow on you, to do the same.
Buy the album here:
https://diskordband.bandcamp.com/album/bipolarities
7 / 10
TIM LEDIN