Friday 28 August 2015

Funerary/Ooze - 'Funerary/Ooze' Split (Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Split 12inch
Date Released: 11/08/2015
Label: Midnite Collective



The 2 tracks on offer from Funerary are gloriously heavy, dark and cold. 'Ascent' begins with a simple yet ominously evil riff before the tortured banshee like vocals breathe fire into the frostbitten air.  Ooze are an altogether different beast; their 4 tracks are very much from the Eyehategod school of sludge but with harsher vocals and the occasional subtle time signature change.

Funerary/Ooze Split 12inch LP//DD track listing:

Funerary

1. Ascent
2. Descent

Ooze

1. Targeted
2. Necrotopya
3. Bridges Burned
4. Satanachia's Will


The Review:

This split comes straight off the back of Funerary's album 'Starless Aeon' released earlier this year and is very much in the same vein, which is a very good thing!

The 2 tracks on offer from Funerary are gloriously heavy, dark and cold. 'Ascent' begins with a simple yet ominously evil riff before the tortured banshee like vocals breathe fire into the frostbitten air. 'Descent' has another lumbering beast like feel to it, the weight of the riffs and the claustrophobic atmosphere make for some uneasy listening. At the 3 and a half minute mark, everything breaks down and a creepy lead riff plays over some droning guitar work. Some weighty chops break through the tension and fade to nothingness. Bands, take note; this is how to do doom.

Ooze are an altogether different beast; their 4 tracks are very much from the Eyehategod school of sludge but with harsher vocals and the occasional subtle time signature change. 'Targeted' and 'Necrotopya' sound like the groovier parts of Soilent Green. 'Burned Bridges' is almost like 'Broken Glass' era Crowbar in it's chops and guitar tone, I can imagine this setting many heads bobbing in a live setting. 'Satanachia's Will' is slower in pace than its predecessors, much more straightforward but still punishing.

This split was released to coincide with Funerary and Ooze's tour and gives a brief glimpse into both bands' respective psyche. Definitely worth a listen and a nice companion to Funerary's full length.

‘Funerary/Ooze’ Split is available here

RIYL: Eyehategood, Iron Monkey, Soilent Green, Indian, Grief, Crowbar