Blut Aus Nord/P.H.O.B.O.S — Triunity

Since their inception in 1994, Blut Aus Nord has consistently created ground-breaking Black Metal, they seem to be always in a state of progressing musically, atmospherically and artistically- put simply the French band have become a touchstone for creative output.  Likewise is P.H.O.B.O.S. (also from France) with a heavy sound leaning towards industrial/ambient/darkwave with doom influence.  The project was formed in 2000, and inspired by artists such as Voivod and Godflesh.  They started as a 4 piece, but currently are manned by Frédéric Sacri. Here the two share 3 songs each on the Triunity split.

From the beginning of the split Blut Aus Nord challenges with “De Libiro Arbitrio”, “Hubris” and “Némeïnn”.  To describe each song would be to define intense, dynamic, slithering, and heavy and add a dash of incredible drumming, spine chilling vocals and guitar perfection.  Every release Blut Aus Nord blesses (or damns as the case may be)us with seems to grow exponentially, which after 20 years is a credit to their creativity and drive to surpass what is typical and elevate the standard.

Onward to the darkly industrial P.H.O.B.O.S.; the infectious “Glowing Phosphorous” with its slinky electronica combined with bombastic industrial, “Transfixed At Golgotha”, primitive and tribal drones of looped rhythm and “Ahrimanic Impulse Victory”, spoken vocals over riffy Ministry like guitars.  Each song is relentless in not only its heaviness but in its harsh sound and brutal ambience.  This proves to be an ideal match to Blut Aus Nord’s intense melodies and disharmonic pitches.

Splits can be somewhat messy affairs, sometimes mixing bands or projects that sound too much alike or trying to merge something that is so foreign to the other that it fails miserably.   Together Blut Aus Nord and P.H.O.B.O.S. are fittingly combined, the ideal match of two groups of artists that create hauntingly atmospheric music; whether it be industrial/ambient or avant garde Black metal.  Perfection is an easy word to toss about, but here it’s aptly bestowed.