ANATOMIA/UNDERGANG “Split LP”

By Dr. Abner Mality

What you see is exactly what you get with this sickening platter of filth and decay. On a laundry list of the most repulsive death metal bands, these two names would be near the top. It isn’t even the first time they’ve done a split together. Why not churn out some more vile sonic effluvium?

Japan’s ANATOMIA starts the proceedings. I didn’t think much of the last full length from these guys...too much ambient horror soundscape, not enough raw meat. Thankfully, there’s no such problem this time around. “Total Darkness” clocks in at just under 12 minutes and is the usual disgusting mix of doom and downtuned death we expect from this bunch. This song is an agonizing trudge through slow motion decay but avoids the boredom trap with catchy riffs and atmosphere. Good stuff! Their second cut “Bound To Death” increases the pace and brings us a bone-breaking death metal assault. Glad to see ANATOMIA is back on slimy track!

Denmark’s UNDERGANG is one of the most consistent death metal bands on the planet and do nothing to shake that reputation with their 3 tracks of gurgling yet strangely melancholy DM. Each is in the four to five minute range and packs a lot into that time. The sewer-chewing vocals are almost subsonic with their guttural mumble. I can’t really say the songs are “melodic” because that conjures up images of Gothenburg style bands, which UNDERGANG most emphatically are not, but there is something sad about each of them that’s hard to describe. More pustulent odes from a band that never misses a beat. This is a top notch split for connoisseurs of sickness.

DARK DESCENT RECORDS

ME SACO UN OJO RECORDS

ANATOMIA

UNDERGANG