‘Split’ by Duister Maanlicht & Kärv
Photo by Kärv | Album Artwork: ‘Split’ by Duister Maanlicht & Kärv
Hailing from Sweden, black metal artist Kärv has teamed up with long-time black metal act Duister Maanlicht out of the Netherlands for a 6-track split that is set for release on November 19. The collaboration features a band with a 23-year history (Duister Maanlicht) sharing the sonic stage with newcomer Kärv who released their first album in 2021.
Kärv leads things off with the first three tracks, beginning with “Unholy Prophet”, which addresses the subject matter of deception. To say that the song leads things off with a bang would be an understatement. It is absolutely riveting, driving black metal that begs the listener to heed the desperate warning of embracing the false prophets among us. The emotionally charged message is distinctively palpable through both the vocals and the music.
In “Justiciar Angel”, we find a darker overtone to the music, even though the energy is still undeniable. There’s something heavier and more somber about the track that is hard to pin down, but it is a chilling piece that leaves the listener feeling a deep sense of tranquil discomfort. “Pillars of Salt” caps off Kärv’s trio of songs with a more paced, melodic anthem. The vocals are distant yet prominent enough to reverberate through the song with a haunting element.
‘Split’ by Duister Maanlicht & Kärv
Duister Maanlicht kicks off the second half of the split with “Omringd door Duivels en Demonen”, a pulsating raw black metal track with vocals that are reminiscent of a Nordic tribal chant. Arguably, the track gets the band off to a great start in showcasing their newest music, heavily leaning into the driving guitars and furious rhythm. You can tell this isn’t the band’s first rodeo, as their approach is seasoned and enriched.
“Flarden Zwarte Mist” has some really catchy guitar melodies throughout the track, all while maintaining a heavy, driving approach to the rhythm and pace. The tribal-like vocals resound once again, but this time they are almost more pronounced. Even with the addition of blast beats and distortion, there is a noticeable melodic element to the song that stays with the listener.
Wrapping up the entire split is a fantastic song titled “Onder Duistere Hemelen Zonder Licht”. Duister Maanlicht provides an exit that retains the chant-like vocals, all while pushing the musical boundaries to the edges of raw and melodic black metal. It is dark and light, heavy and weightless. In summary, the song encapsulates the split with a beauty and heaviness that the two artists combined incredibly well.
You can follow Duister Maanlicht on Bandcamp and Kärv on Bandcamp and Instagram.
