Band:	Grey Heaven Fall / Twilight Is Mine
Album:	The Original Seed Of Decadence/Age Of Aquarius
Style:	Black metal, Death metal
Release date:	May 2013

Grey Heaven Fall
01. Abomination Of Divine
02. Denial From The Son Of Mourning

Twilight Is Mine
03. Colours Streaming Down From Your Life
04. Age Of Aquarius
05. Higher To Depth

If this split album has taught me anything, it's that I should familiarize myself with more Russian black metal bands...

In case you haven't heard of either Grey Heaven Fall or Twilight Is Mine, here's a quick history lesson. TIM was formed eons ago by two guys from Abstract Spirit, releasing their fair share of material over the past 10 years quieter than any other band that comes to mind. GHF, on the other hand, are at their peak, coming off the release of their self-titled debut. Both bands are Russian. Both play black metal. And both, most importantly, have their own sound.

The split begins with some heavily melodic black/death hybrid that eventually veers into Deathspell Omega territory - which isn't all too surprising considering the similarities in lyrical content. The eerie atmosphere is kept in check by blistering drums and deep growls - one of those "dungeon metal" releases a la Impetuous Ritual and Cruciamentum. With only 10 minutes of material, Grey Heaven Fall engage the listener immediately, pummel them with an aural onslaught, and ensnare them with sweeping melodic passages. If that doesn't sound like a great way to spend 10 minutes, you should probably reconsider your priorities in life.

Not to be outdone by their fellow countrymen, Twilight Is Mine bring a welcome veteran presence to close out this split release. Their brand of black metal is a little more straightforward and not as catchy or fun, but the songwriting ability of the band members more than makes up for it. This is some no-nonsense extreme music that follows a fairly linear path - 16 minutes of cohesive, quality black metal. The dark and eerie atmosphere established earlier in the split is further enforced by the inclusion of piano and organ segments, which complement the slower pace. Keep in mind the writers of this music are involved in a funeral doom project, and a lot of that influence seems to settle in on these three tracks.

Overall this is a great split release. It demonstrates what both bands are capable of, teasing the listener with just enough material to garner interest without revealing all the cards in their hand. Whether you're in the mood for a more upbeat form of catchy yet dissonant melodic black metal, or some not-quite-snail-paced atmospheric creepy black metal, The Original Seed Of Decadence / Age Of Aquarius will in all likelihood tickle your fancy.