Sapthuran/Leviathan – Split
Battle Kommand Records – BKR008 – February 13th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
See the major problem with splits is as follows: if one band isn’t worth listening to, then it drags down the value of the release as a whole. This is a prime example, and I’ll bet you can guess which band comes up short in the end. Need a clue? It sure as hell ain’t
Leviathan.
As far as
Sapthuran are concerned, it’s the classic case of one man, um, manning every instrument, and that man is Patrick Hall (
Immolatus). I’m inclined to believe that the three songs he’s supplied aren’t products of “bedroom black metal,” but there are quite a few weak spots. There are so many, in fact, I find it hard to believe that Hall’s birthed two full-lengths –
…In Hatred and
To the Edge of Land – under this moniker. Simply put,
Sapthuran aren’t too interesting. Worse yet, the drumming is noticeably sloppy while the folk injections are poorly played. Check out the 4:35 minute mark of “As a Tale Told by the Leaves and Whispered by the Wind” (ugh) for an example of the latter, though the drumming miscues saturate Hall’s entire half of the split. It does get better during the respite that is “And Autumn Sheds Its Final Tear,” however, as the wind-filled background complements the energetic acoustic arrangement nicely. Then it’s back into the muddy, slip-inducing trenches during
Sapthuran’s rendition of “The Wanderer: Blood in the Forest.” While Kentucky (my birth state) most assuredly isn’t known for its black metal, it’s not as if Hall can’t redeem himself in the future. But for now, he may have shot himself in the foot by collaborating with one of the best USBM outfits in recent history; in short, even as an upstart, his missteps are made all the more conspicuous when held up against the mighty
Leviathan.
At 45 minutes total, Wrest (
Twilight,
Lurker of Chalice) strangles his way through the last five tracks, presenting applause-worthy material as usual. After the requisite desolate intro, “Odious Convulsions (They Are Not Worthy of His Name)” obliterates the stillness with its frenzied, tense assault. The background subtleties – unnerving alarums blaring every so often, bass lines rumbling steadily, and drum beats emanating experience – bolster the main riffs and burly growls. Like other
Leviathan material, “The Fourth Blind Wound” wastes no time ripping out the heart of the matter, lunging out of the starting gate full speed ahead with blinders donned and everything. Still, it’s not riveting until it halts the pace and then readjusts its trot at the 4:15 minute mark, which features instrumentation to die on a cross for. The overriding grooves of “Crushing the Prolapsed Oviducts of Virtue” are lethal as well. Another notable attribute of
Leviathan is none other than Wrest’s talent for lacing his songs with suicidal, melancholic feelings – further amplified by the creepiness he strews throughout his offerings.
Lamentably,
Sapthuran’s presence diminishes
Leviathan’s showing here, because about 20 minutes of this
Split is amateurish and unpolished. As always, though, Wrest edges closer to the “best in show” USBM award with every subsequent release, and diehard fanatics should purchase this despite the setbacks. The score, of course, reflects the entire ride.
6/10
UM’s Review Rating Scale
Official Battle Kommand Records Website
