[ B O L T ] are a drone/doom band and Morasth are a doom/post-metal band, both are from Germany.

[ B O L T ] offer a single track and start us off on this split with the 21-minute [ 0 6 ].

Building around a twisting repetitive core that gradually shifts and develops as the music unfolds, this track is about dark tension and malignant mood.

There are no vocals, but a grim piece like this doesn’t need them at all. Instead, it batters and bruises with its relentless pace and unforgiving focus. This pace and focus starts out at glacial levels, but slowly builds across the duration, until it becomes destructively upbeat, (including the use of blast beats). At any speed, the underpinning bass remains slow and heavy, driving things mercilessly forward, until the music’s power is spent, the pace drops once more, and it sputters and sparks out in a sea of drone.

Fans of Nadja and Ommadon take note.

Morasth’s single song is named …Ut in Caligine Terrae Residam, Tamen Patria Aether Manet and lasts 19 minutes.

A more conventional doom/sludge metal track, Morasth’s contribution is slow, crushing, and atmospheric, building with dark appeal and buttressed by post-metal mechanics.

The bulk of the song is heavy and ponderous, somewhat recalling Bongripper in style, (particularly its first half – the second half builds on Morasth’s atmospheric qualities more, although both sides have elements of both). Add to this some drone elements, as well as the aforementioned post-metal ones, and you have a convincing and confident take on instrumental doom. Additionally, the music has a quasi-melodic edge in places, although this is approached in a malevolent, atmospheric way, giving the track a mood-driven edge that complements the underlying doom metal quite nicely.

I’ve encountered Morasth before, but this is my first exposure to [ B O L T ]’s music, and I’ve liked what I’ve heard. A recommended listen for people who like their music slow and moody.