Grave Upheaval / Encoffination - Split (2011)

Split, Psychedelic Lotus Order
November 11th, 2011

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Region: Australia / USA

A fucking oppressive, crushingly dark release. Would you expect anything less from these bestial, gloom-ridden acts?

This is the second release for Grave Upheaval (who I'll be seeing at Rites of Darkness III in a few days) and the first split for Encoffination, released just before their recent somber, crawling and terrifying second full length "O' Hell, Shine In Thy Whited Sepulchres".

I think you all know what lies within this split: unbearable darkness and suffering in sonic form. Encoffination open with "Inurnment of Fleshless Disembodied Remains", their classic use of chiming cathedral bells emanating throughout the track followed by a slow build of feedback and a quick sample dragging you into a down-tuned apocalypse. If you love their recent release this will be greatly satisfying. Grave Upheaval's untitled track follows with a muffled and turbulent hatefilled atmosphere. The riffs are pitch black and unbearably heavy, with grievously haunting rasps permeating the spiraling ferocity. This track has a huge low end as well — it will shake your place without question.

A truly perfect pairing of bands on this release. It couldn't be more appropriate. Highly recommended, do not pass this up. It's limited to 250 copies on vinyl from various places (I got mine from Dark Descent Records but it looks like they're out). This is a vinyl rip, any problems let me know.

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Encoffination - O' Hell, Shine In Thy Whited Sepulchres (2011)

Full Length, Selfmadegod Records
November 15th, 2011

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Region: USA

Listening to this record is basically like being pounded in the face in excruciatingly slow intervals continuously for 40 minutes with a mace as you choke on your own blood and splintered skull, lying in a dark battlefield. The crawling scent of a thousand torn up corpses piled in the center of a ruined castle ready to be burned.

I'd say it's an improvement over Ritual Ascension Beyond Flesh which was quite an impressive record, more chilling samples of ringing monastery bells strewn amongst the incredibly heavy and slow riffs, drumming and vocals. No disappointments here.

There are a few moments where the pace picks up slightly but this is largely a slithering, suffocating cloud of doom-drenched death metal and it is brutal. Pick it up here.

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Encoffination - Ritual Ascension Beyond Flesh (2010)

Full-length, Ritval Death Offerings
April, 2010



Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Region: USA

Plodding, heavy, dark as shit doomy death metal with great atmosphere, like a smoke filled crypt. Suffocating and thick.

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