We received some of these covers with mild shipping damage-- please choose from the dropdown menu.
Beautiful repressing of the classic split from the ancient days of the early black metal scene! A limited slab of evil magic from an era long gone! Limited in 1000 copies in Gatefold with the original covers. Comes with silver hotfoil printed slipcase
700 x Black Vinyl
150 x Swamp Vinyl( Necromantia Edition)
150 x Aqua Blue (Varathron Edition)
Despite its dual-artist nature, this release remains one of the most influential and essential entries in the Greek black metal canon. Necromantia's contributions to this split stand out as some of their eeriest and most compelling work, capturing a unique atmospheric quality. While Varathron’s tracks are also commendable and represent some of their finest efforts, the first half-hour of this album truly encapsulates the pinnacle of black metal artistry from Greece. This release is a must-listen for anyone even remotely interested in this genre.
The songs by Necromantia mostly originate from their 1992 demo "Vampiric Rituals," with the exception of "Faceless Gods" and "La Mort." Their ability to create a rich, atmospheric sound using only bass, drums, and the haunting vocals of Magus Wampyr Daoloth is nothing short of astonishing. "Lord of the Abyss" unfolds with a droning mix of bass guitar and a sense of creeping evil, climaxing with eerie piano notes and a chilling guitar solo. "The Feast of Ghouls" opens with a somber organ before launching into a faster, more aggressive pace accompanied by guttural vocals. Meanwhile, "Evil Prayers" features sparse tribal rhythms, synthesizers, and whispers, creating a haunting soundscape, and "Lycanthropia" is a brief but intense piece featuring nightmare-inducing growls set against a steady bass backdrop. "De Magia Veterum," the one Necromantia track not present on the original LP, is a sprawling, ten-minute composition filled with chaotic energy, unsettling laughter, and a sense of dark ritual, as if the band were engaging in some arcane, frenzied ceremony.
Varathron's contributions also come from a demo, specifically "Genesis of Apocryphal Desire" (1991). The tracks "Genesis of Apocryphal Desire" and "Descent of a Prophetic Vision" are reissued here from the "One Step Beyond Dreams" EP, making this CD a valuable collection for those who may have struggled to find that EP. Highlights from Varathron's material include the grandiose synthesizer intro "The Cult of the Dragon," the slowly building black/thrash piece "The Tressrissing of Nyarlathotep," and the melancholic "La Reine Noir," with its melodic elements reminiscent of Slayer’s "South of Heaven." This material bridges the gap between Varathron’s early thrash roots and the slower, more atmospheric style they would explore on "His Majesty at the Swamp," paralleling the evolution seen in fellow Greek band Rotting Christ. Fans who appreciated Varathron’s rawer, more chaotic early sound will find much to enjoy here.
Overall, the Necromantia side of the split is favored, which slightly affects the overall rating, but both bands deserve credit for assembling demo material that complements each other so well. This release stands as one of the quintessential introductions to Greek black metal, possibly only surpassed by pairing it with Rotting Christ’s "Thy Mighty Contract." The raw, demo-level production quality adds to the authenticity of the listening experience, and the compositions exhibit a blend of imaginative flair and a touch of innovation, especially on Necromantia's part. Although there are some redundancies, such as the inclusion of "Lord of the Abyss" on "Crossing the Fiery Path," the rarity and quality of these demo recordings make this split essential. The CD version, with its additional content, is preferred over the original LP rip. Undoubtedly, this split is among the finest in metal history, deserving of attention from anyone who truly appreciates the genre, provided they have a genuine taste for its dark and diabolic nature.
