Rating: 7.5/10
Release: 24 September 2018
Label: Werewolf Promotion

I am still not sure why we receive certain albums to review and not others. Last year we reviewed the split for Stworz/Alne (“Warnija”) but not Stworz latest album (“Wolosozary”) which came out afterwards. Well I guess we get to review their next split, this time with Polish countrymates Rivers Like Veins entitled “Sporje W Pola I W Przestworza” (“I Shall Look Into The Fields And Skies”). I actually only had the Stworz tracks for review, but thanks to the magic of the internet, the Rivers Like Veins tracks were easily found on Bandcamp. So other than being on the same label (Werewolf Promotions) I am not sure If I would have put them together on a split release, but it definitely works. There is a total of 11 tracks here……5 by RLV and 6 by Stworz so 11 tracks including 3 instrumentals totaling almost 48 minutes. RLV are pretty straightforward black metal but their style is very complementary even if they self-describe themselves as “Decadent Holligan Black Metal” which I think is in the realm of classic Emperor or Mayhem but with some ambient touches and maybe even some punky touches. Decent material and you should also check out their debut release “Autumnal Fogs Of Last Breaths” from last year for more of them. Now on to the Stworz tracks….and another pack of killer tracks. Pagan black metal is what I would describe them as and I think I instantly thought of Kroda and maybe some German acts like Thormesis or Helrunar. Opening track “Ziemie W Złotych Brzaskach” (“Lands In Golden Daybreak”) is a pretty good summation of Stworz with mid-paced pagan metal with blast beats where needed, semi-growled vocals and folk instrumentation (I would say whistle). It also a relatively short track (2 minutes) for an opener with tracks ranging up to over 8 minutes. “Zrodzeni Z Rosy” (“Born Of Dew”) shows yet another side to Stworz with acoustic guitar, key and nature sounds and is the perfect lead into the 8 plus minute “Nieutkane Wyraje” (“He Expresses Himself Uninvited”). They have also done a cover on here of the Forest track “Płyń, Krwi!” (“Swim, Blood”) which I am not familiar with, but it works within their style. Closing track “Spojrzę W Pola” (“I Will Look In The Fields”) is another short acoustic instrumental piece and reinforces how they can be heavy in both styles. All in all, both acts have put some good material on here and is worth giving a shot even if not super folky.

Tracklist

1. Stworz – Ziemie w złotych brzaskach 02:01
2. Stworz – Jak przebiśniegi 04:57
3. Stworz – Zrodzeni z rosy 02:05 instrumental
4. Stworz – Nieutkane wyraje 08:30
5. Stworz – Płyń, krwi! (Forest cover) 07:34
6. Stworz – Spojrzę w pola 03:40
7. Rivers like Veins – Pośród łąk jedynie wspomnienie 01:38
8. Rivers like Veins – Kolce wbite w nieba ciemnicę 05:29
9. Rivers like Veins – Melodia ros porannych 03:39
10. Rivers like Veins – Z pustek górskich chmury 05:17
11. Rivers like Veins – Spojrzę w przestworza 02:50