Style: technical death metal, progressive death metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Tomb Mold, Atheist, Cynic, Death
Country: Norway, United Kingdom
Release date: 12 July 2024
The 90s were a magical time (so I’ve been told). The Soviet Union fell; the internet rose; grunge and hip-hop hit the mainstream; iconic films and television released for those into such things. More importantly, though, some weird hippy kids from the Florida swamps decided that jazz and the nascent death metal scene needed to have some riotous sex to pleasure the universe’s ears. Spearheaded by Cynic and Atheist, those bass-forward, groovy, fusion-filled death metal albums in the early 90s were the most progressive heavy music the metal world had ever heard: they (along with Death’s The Sound of Perseverance) spawned a style of metal that was primarily aggressive death metal with an equally proggy accent. This style of death metal is where the split Bipolarities from labelmates Diskord & Atvm takes us.
Playing stanky, jazz-infused death metal, Diskord warp their death metal riffs nearly beyond recognition, contorting structures in writhing bass lines and rhythmically jarring phrases. Their side of the split thrives on the chaotic energy yet incredible precision that made Atheist so special: this is unhinged. Leading the charge, Eyvind’s prominent bass forces the songs forward as he manically plucks with a jazz wizard’s hands, like Mingus. He’s not stagnant, not relying on some effete guitar princess to lead the way—it’s dirty, squelching death metal at its core and never forgets it. That’s not to say Dmitry’s guitar doesn’t deserve accolades or is second-class in Diskord; he embellishes the filth with opulent leads when he’s not riffing along with Eyvind—check out 1:40 in “Pass the Baton” or the fantastic solos around :55 into “Cogged Pother.” All across Bipolarities, Diskord effectively turn traditional head-banging riffs into the thinking man’s head-scratchers by contorting space-time around them. Twenty-five years into their career, Diskord still create fresh death metal.
On the other hand, Atvm are relative newcomers to the scene, playing for over a decade but without an LP under their belts until 2021. And, I’ll admit, I seemed to be the only one in the entire metalsphere who wasn’t wowed by Atvm’s debut, Putrid, Famine, and Fucking Endless. They fixed my qualms on Bipolarities, however, and they rival Diskord for best side of the split. Starting with a total Rushism in “Cancer,” they write longer-form death metal than their mates Diskord, twisting their twin songs’ ten minute run times as much as they write screwy riffs. Still, Atvm are a bit goofier than Diskord, and it works in their favor as much as against them. The album’s highlight is the amazing flamenco swing at 5:30 in “Morphine,” but then they also do silly things like the classic Ulrich trash can snare for a brief time in “Cancer” (thank god that’s not permanent). I also find H’s vocals to be lacking range, kind of the stereotypical Cookie Monster vocals of death metal, lacking the complexity of the music. The spiraling arpeggios and skittering drums don’t benefit from a sledgehammer, though I understand the long heritage of such vocals in death metal.
A split is only as strong as its weakest side, and neither band errs much; in fact, the two perform so well stylistically and energetically together you hardly notice a major transition between the two sides except from switching from Diskord’s marginally better riffs and writing to Atvm’s slightly more engaging, dynamic compositions. The two are in sync slinging out sexy, jazzy death metal. Colin Marston’s production also, obviously, makes both bands shine, and this is a truly stunning sound quality for the mix of high-minded progginess and grimy Florida-influenced death metal. The bands complement each other to elevate and highlight each other’s strengths rather than distract from their differences.
This sort of amalgamation of death metal and prog was born in the 90s, but it’s had a revitalization in recent times—touring buddies Horrendous and Tomb Mold last year, the youngsters in Barn, StarGazer (who have been at it longer than the others), et al. Bipolarities is another strong entry into this canon and continues to bolster the subgenre’s claim as the best death metal has to offer.
Recommended tracks: Onward! To Nowhere; Shivering, as We Shed Our Hides; Cogged Pother; Morphine
You may also like: Horrendous, Imperial Triumphant. Lunar Chamber, Sarmat, Aseitas, Barn, StarGazer, VoidCeremony, Malignancy
Final verdict: 7.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website
Diskord & Atvm is:
Diskord line up –
Hans Jørgen – Drums and vocals
Eyvind – Bass and vocals
Dmitry – Guitar and vocals
Atvm line up –
Tom – Guitars
Fran – Drums and percussion
Luke – Bass and percussion
H – Vocals
0 Comments