Artist: Cursed Excruciation / Funerealm Gloom
Country: Brazil / Finland
Label: Unpure Records
Formats: Split 10” EP / Split Tape / Split CD
Year: 2023
Unpure Records, a label that is always bringing the best of the worst. The label is increasingly the place to go for your recurring cravings for the depraved arts. In the past the label has been presenting bands that, all in their own respects, honoring the true values of extreme metal from the late 80’s and early 90’s, being it the harshest stuff like Burning Winds or the arcane stuff like Cursed Excruciation. From the latter Brazilian act the label also released this split tape/CD with Finnish Funerealm Gloom, the result is an archetypical occult affair that wears the label’s colors with pride.
Only a few months after the one-man band’s debut album, ‘Arcane Diabolism’ (Iron Bonehead Productions), it already returns with this split EP and continues its musical path that follows the glory days of mystic late 80’s/early 90’s Black Metal. Just like the ‘Arcane Diabolism’-album, these four new tracks give you another prime example of Black Metal in the vein of the old recordings of Varathron, Mortuary Drape, Necromantia, Samael, Mystifier, Barathrum and the likes. Compared to the album, though, the tracks on this split EP are a tad rawer, but other than that, this is just as close to the originals. Anyone who has been intrigued by the band’s previous recordings are very unlikely to be disappointed.
The Finnish Funerealm Gloom is taking up the second part of this split EP. The band, comprised out of two individuals who are (often together) active in bands like Witchcraft, Beherit, Ceremonial Torture, Necromonarchia Daemonum and Infernathan – seasoned folks, so to say. With this relatively new band the two recorded two tracks, originally released as their 2020-released ‘Serpentcraft’-demo and judging from the music on offer, they have chosen a perfect name for the band. It conveys a funereal atmosphere that often creeps up to that ominous and cunning sound of Abysmal Grief, yet it is poured in a distinctly occult sounding Black Metal mold. Compared to Cursed Excruciation the music sounds a bit more dense, subsequently giving it a bit more intense experience. Despite the occult and mystic nature of the music, this is mainly recommended for those who would not be shunned by a thoroughly doomy adventure.
