SPLIT REVIEW: Outre-Tombe / Skelethal

2 of the prime underground Death Metal titans join forces for a new split. France’s SKELETHAL and Canada’s OUTRE-TOMBE to be precise, set to be unleashed by Carbonized Records on October 28th.

First up OUTRE-TOMBE fire into life on a wave of grisly riffing and mid-tempo drums, giving a classic blend of old school hellfire with punishing grooves and a raw production. The maniacal vocals and spectral instruments have a touch of gloom to the sepulchral spew which is met with a filthy and ravenous aggression. The chasmic and raunchy blend of filth is something these guys have nailed across three wicked albums, and this track is no different. Eerie leads and violent rhythmic shifts bellow with the barbaric underground fury of true Death Metal piety, while keeping it blasphemously savage and gritty. Unpolished, regressive and oh so fierce, there is no denying Outre-Tombe is the real thing.

And on the flip-side SKELETHAL blast us with chainsaw riffing, d-beat mayhem and monstrous vocals with a crushing production. A bit less raw, but equally brutal, this French machine of morbidity blend the Swedish Death Metal tone with much more thrashing elements and a charnel atmosphere that is utterly ruthless to behold. The whiplash grooves and barking vocals work in unison to pulverise all in sight while the maniacally skull-cracking guitars offer some marvellous riffing and cool solos. This track feels primitive and nasty with plenty to set it apart from its predecessor while continuing things excellently. The latter half goes into this glorious stomping rhythmic battery that is totally killer. Another gem of Death Metal destruction.

This split is fantastic. Taking two of the finest underground merchants of the macabre who don’t sound exactly alike yet share a raw, primitive and urgent style of Death Metal while utilising quite different executions was a masterful choice. Each band brought something worthwhile to the table, neither outshining the other. A essential experience of underground Death Metal might.