The occasional split can be a way for someone like me to get more than one band at a time, effectively doubling the rate of new acts that I’ve heard. Usually, splits are done between two bands who bring some tracks and – boom! – slap it on a CD and sell it. But it’s every now and then that we get a split much like tonight’s that’s done between four distinct acts. While all healthy doses of Italian black metal, it’s with seven vile tracks of distinctive approaches that make this split such a treat.

Sometimes a split can be a way for two bands to bring together a similar sound and, ultimately, create a streamlined experience that feels incredibly cohesive as though the two acts were moving as one. What events or reasons led to these four groups coming together to allow “Teschi Ossa Morte” into creation is completely lost on me and I couldn’t be anymore okay with that given every offering that’s on display with this effort is the sort of collection that these acts should be proud. Should you be picky with your black metal just a bit there’s plenty of diversity and intrigue to be had across these four bands that’s sure to tickle your fancy. Should you want your black metal with a tinge of atmosphere that isn’t afraid to bring us a rollercoaster of intensity? à Répit has what you need right off the bat. Slightly melodic black metal that’s subtlety infectious? Inféren all day long. Utmost raw black metal that never once relents even for the ending of the world? Malauriu is here to help you set a torch to the world. Adventurous yet still massive in presence with a scathing presence always on display? Vultur has you in the fantastic 12-minute finale. All of that feels as though some black metal act from anywhere in the world would try to do single-handedly, but it’s likely only through sheer chance and talent that “Teschi Ossa Morte” has resulted in the incredibly multi-sided and incredibly detailed slab that it is as there’s no other way we could’ve gotten something like this.

While there isn’t much to go off of with “Teschi Ossa Morte” for me to say that I have a good grip on the individual styles of each band, but it’s the flavors that we get out of each offering that make for an interesting dish in the end, undoubtedly. Each band out of the split has something stupendous to offer, and it’s only through sheer persistence and talent that “Teschi Ossa Morte” has come together as wonderfully as it has.

LISTEN to “Teschi Ossa Morte” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE à Répit on Facebook here.

LIKE Inféren on Facebook here.

LIKE Malauriu on Facebook here.

LIKE Vultur on Facebook here.