Walking The Sinister Path (Nigra Mors Productions)

 This work is actually the latest release of both bands; consisting in an interesting compilation of previously released songs. The first half of the split belongs to Riddle Of Meander, opening this album with “Conquering Night Wind” and “Superior Black Flame”, both mournful, infernal mid paced and well produced Black Metal tracks taken from the band’s first full length “End Of All Life And Creation”, followed by “Transylvanian Hunger”, an excellent Darkthrone cover, which even when is considerably better sounding than the original version, maintains the old cruel and cold feeling intact, I must say covering this song was and excellent choice, the hi-fi atmospheres created by Riddle Of Meander incredibly fits with the whole “true” Black Metal feeling in a very remarkable way. Closing this half is “Ancient Apocalypse”, a song taken from the band’s second demo, that shows us some of their primitive might, with a pretty varied Darkthorne-inspired mid paced Black Metal piece.

 The second half of this split belongs to the Norwegian one-man band Skaur, which opens with the entire “En Hymne Til Dauden” song, this 17 minutes piece was, as many of you remember, an entire demo, released in 2004 and lately re-released in 2005. This song is actually one of the band’s finest pieces, blending dense Burzum-styled Black Metal with somewhat serene, yet disturbing passages and several ad-hoc effects. Then “Farvel Verden” comes, originally included in the “Farvel Verden” demo 2004 (and lately included at “Skaur”, “FullMåneSang”, “Nordmann” and “Promo 2005” demos), this song explores the most ambient laden side of Skaur, with a pretty incidental and soothing instrumental piece. After this tranquil brake, “Du Svake sjel som Vandrer nun Jord” (taken from “Pesta Kommer” demo) continues with a hellish Black Metal piece adorned by varied tempos, a rather depressive felling and a somewhat melodic edge… a great track indeed. “Kirssmannhaagjen I” more than a song, sounds like the acoustic and calm introduction for the obscure and dense closing track, “Krissmannshaagjen II (also included at “Pesta Kommer”) a mostly blurry riff driven instrumental song, adorned only by some ultra ripping, infernal shrieks… probably the obscurest track of the entire album.

“Walking The Sinister Path”, even when there nothing actually new here, is an interesting compendium of varied songs from this two promising Black Metal acts, a recommendable piece for anyone versed or curious in these two band’s works. By the way, this Cd-r version is limited to 222 copies, and the tape version of this album, released through Todesschrei Productions, is limited to 300 copies, so hurry up if you don’t want to miss this one… (AP)