Immortal Souls / Mordecai
Divine Wintertime / Through The Woods, Towards The Dawn
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Aahh, another split CD! This one comes from the very fine folks at Little Rose Productions, who have a great ear for excellent metal. Since these are the days that metal is almost completely untouched by the major labels, you have to look to indies like these guys for the good stuff. These two bands deliver. Immortal Souls are 90 mph, tight, and hallow screeching their way to the metal hall of fame. What's different about these guys are their classic metal influences. Even at this speed, their melodies are clear. The vocals fall somewhere in the death/unblack range. If these guys had come out during the days of Vengeance Rising, that band probably wouldn't have been kings of thrash. Mordecai, also representing Finland, are produced very well, showcasing virtuosity in playing and a cool combination of the instruments. The vocals here are much more unblack than their fellow countrymen in I.S. Musically, the band goes after a faster, more grindcore sound. To order this double-wammy of metal, send $15 (they only accept cash & credit cards, but you can also find these from the indie dealers that advertise in HM) to: Little Rose Productions, PO Box 533, 40101 Jyvaskyla, Finland