Embrace of Thorns / Invocation - Invoking the Noumenon / Crushing the Feeble Messianic

This split brings together EMBRACE OF THORNS and INVOCATION, two acts emerging from the black/death metal scenes of Greece and Chile, offering a glimpse into their respective relationships with the genre's darker traditions across six tracks. Released on October 30 through IRON BONEHEAD PRODUCTIONS on CD and 12" vinyl, the record comprises two three-track contributions spanning a total of 22 minutes. The fact that EMBRACE OF THORNS' material represents their first recorded work since 2022's "Entropy Dynamics" makes this release particularly noteworthy in the band's discography. On INVOCATION's side, we encounter further developments in the musical approach introduced on their 2024 debut album, "The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures)."

EMBRACE OF THORNS' contribution intertwines the ferocity of martial black metal with the more distinctly riff-driven foundations of death metal. 'Life-Strife-Transgression' is the composition that most clearly establishes the character of their side. The riffs are reinforced by dark, menacing melodic movements, reflecting the increasingly intricate approach that has emerged in the band's songwriting over the years. Rapid tremolo-picked passages and blast beats reinforce the bestial character of the music, while mid-paced and slower sections prevent the compositions from relying exclusively on speed. In particular, the transitions between different tempos give the material a structure that keeps its aggression from becoming confined to a single rhythmic approach.

'Destroyer of All Maladies', meanwhile, stands out for its more straightforward, death metal-oriented riffing. The guitars' sharp, forceful movements gain an even more physical impact through the prominent contribution of the drums. On vocals, Kostas moves between black metal shrieks and bestial growls, employing different expressions to suit the character of each passage. This variety demonstrates that the vocals are not merely an aggressive element layered over the music, but an important component in shaping the compositions' dark character. The prominence of the drums in the mix is equally significant; the rhythmic intensity never gets buried beneath the guitars, reinforcing the band's martial edge.

The third track, 'Mundo vai acabar - Hipersublime (Outro)', serves a different purpose by providing a transition between the two bands. This brief outro, specifically highlighted by IRON BONEHEAD PRODUCTIONS, creates an atmospheric interlude following the destructive character of EMBRACE OF THORNS' two main compositions. It is a small but meaningful arrangement choice that prevents the split from feeling like nothing more than two entirely separate band contributions.

Moving on to INVOCATION, the death metal element becomes more pronounced. 'Altar of Unseen Prayers' opens their contribution with dense riffing and a measured rhythmic approach. Compared to EMBRACE OF THORNS' more intricate and varied structures, the songwriting here follows a more direct path. With mid-tempos occupying much of the compositions, the music derives its power less from constant acceleration than from the weight of the riffs and the pressure generated through repetition. The combination of black metal shrieks and death metal growls further sustains the interplay between the two genres at the vocal level. Dark harmonies emerging from the guitar melodies also ensure that the music is not built on sheer brute force alone.

'Impetuous' is one of the most compelling moments of INVOCATION's contribution. With the rhythms and guitars coming together more forcefully, the directness of the band's songwriting becomes a distinct advantage. There is no unnecessary pursuit of complexity here; the inherent weight of the riffs and the resolute rhythmic flow carry the track. 'The Shattered Torch' provides a closing statement that introduces more atmospheric ideas. Brief whispered vocals and dark melodic touches expand the ritualistic dimension of the music. The atmospheric approach heard particularly on this track adds the more unsettling and mystical qualities of black metal to INVOCATION's death metal-centered sound.

The production choices of both bands also bring their differences into focus. EMBRACE OF THORNS' dark, raw character is combined with a more controlled sonic approach that preserves the clarity of the individual instruments. INVOCATION, meanwhile, delivers a production that continues the approach heard on "The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures)", leaning towards an even rawer character. This difference does not undermine the cohesion of the split. On the contrary, it demonstrates how the two bands establish different focal points within the same musical tradition. While EMBRACE OF THORNS stands out through its more varied compositions and bestial black/death metal character, INVOCATION gives greater emphasis to the physical weight of its riffs and the sustained presence of its dark atmosphere.

This split does not attempt to expand the established boundaries of the genre or introduce anything radically new. Indeed, part of what makes this pairing meaningful is precisely the absence of such ambitions. At the intersection of South American and European black/death metal traditions, two distinct approaches emerge, each retaining its own compositional identity. EMBRACE OF THORNS' more dynamic and layered structures complement INVOCATION's heavy, direct and ritualistic death metal approach. This release deserves recognition not merely as another addition to both bands' discographies, but also as a collaborative effort demonstrating that the contemporary bestial black/death metal scene continues to produce acts with distinctly different identities.

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