This is a review of split album between Indonesia's Santet and Singapore's Istidraj called "Verbis Diaboli (Raising High The Horns Ov Hell)" which will be released in 2024 as a joint effort between WP & RO Productions and Iron, Blood & Death Corp and we will start off the review with Santet a band that plays a very epic form of black metal.
Their side of the split starts out with some ritualistic soundscapes while epic sounding synths can also be heard briefly before going into more of a heavier and melodic direction. Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams along with all of the musical instruments on their side of the recording also having a very powerful sound to them.
When the music speeds up a great amount of tremolo picking and blast b eats can be heard which also gives the songs more of a raw feeling. Throughout their side of the recording you can also hear a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts along with the solos and leads also being done in a very melodic style, clean playing is also utilized briefly and a couple of the tracks are very long and epic in length. The production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Spiritual Black Magick and Javanese Ethics.
In my opinion Santet are a very great sounding epic black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out their side of the split. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Susuk Curse Of The Black Witch" and "Black Fuckin Mist".
Next up is Istidraj who return with their raw style of black metal.
Their side of the split starts out with some chants and synths before going into a heavier direction while you can also hear all of the musical instruments that are present on their side of the recording. Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams and the faster sections of the songs also add in a lot of blast beats.
When tremolo picking is added into the faster riffing they also give the tracks more of a raw feeling along with the songs also adding in a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts. Melodies can also be heard at times as well as the music also being very heavily rooted in the old school era, when guitar leads are introduced on the recording they are also done in a very melodic style. The production sound s very dark and raw while the lyrics cover Occultism, Anti Religion and Perversion themes.
In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Istidraj and if you are a fan of raw and old school black metal, you should check out their side of the split. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "God Fukkin Sodomy" and "Verbis Diaboli".
In conclusion I feel this is a very great sounding split and I would recommend it to all fans of Asian black metal.
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Santet/67092
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Istidraj/9155