Various Artists – Swine of Hades (2011)

Featuring a very diverse line-up, today we have a five-way split called “Swine of Hades”. Featuring tracks of Taake, Sigh, The Meads of Asphodel, Thus Defiles (with Sakis of Rotting Christ) and a track featuring Evo from Warfare and Algy Ward of Tank, this release is as diverse as they come, but all bands come together very well when played loudly over your speakers.

With a very powerful dose of Metal with Punk elements and a pouncing Bass guitar line, Evo and Algy deliver a cover of Status Quo’s “Tune to the Music”. The cover is actually pretty good and the nasty and raw sound created is very suitable for this crushing release. Next up we have Taake’s cover of GG Alllin’s “Die when you Die”, in a very Punk-ish Black’n’roll fashion. Hoest’s vocals are as crazy as ever and the sound of the track is as raw as you can get.

The weirdness begins with Sigh’s deranged “Somniphobia”, taken from their upcoming album “In Somniphobia”. The band’s ability to create bizarre music is only equaled by The Meads of Asphodel, also featured in this release. If you like weird instruments put together in a more bizarre, yet melodic manner, this is the song for you. The Meads of Asphodel are up next with their track “There's a God in my Gruel”, a song that makes us remember The Doors “Riders on the Storm” but on the typical Meads of Asphodel cracked out style. This is a very trippy and interesting song indeed, created during the band’s recording sessions of “Murder Of Jesus The Jew”

Just before the end of this release, we have the furious “And They Shall Fear The Night”, a very crushing song that delivers waves of powerful guitars and hellish vocals. Ending this release with such a brutal and hype-paced track deserves a commendation and nicely rounds up such an excellent 5 way split that will open your musical horizons and as it claims, it has to be played loud as fuck.

Release: 2011

Country: UK