Integrity & Krieg Split

Gruff horror thrash movers Integrity (from Belgium, Ohio, not Belgium the European country that actually sent a team to the Wolrd Cup this year, as their Bandcamp page had lead me to believe) and Pennsylvanian black metal forerunners Krieg aren’t from the closest of musical territories, but they’re not the most unlikely pair to get together for a split release. In fact, I quite enjoy splits between bands with at least slightly different focuses, and both bands on this one are pretty solid, reliable acts.
Integrity take the first half of the release with two original songs and two covers: “Sons of Satan” by Vermapyre and “Document One” by G.I.S.M.; both done in Integrity’s standard horror/crossover thrash fashion. The quick, thrashy intro track “Scorched Earth” is a meager opener, but it really doesn’t do much to expand Integrity’s sound, or even present the best of what they usually offer on full-lengths. “Flames of the Immortal” follows in pretty similar suit, saved perhaps only by the decent solo with which it finishes. Integrity’s side is pretty alright, but it sounds like probable leftovers from their 2017 album.
Krieg brings two new songs and a rather disposable live recording of “The Sick Winds Stir the Cold Dawn” to their side. The band set off with the relatively standard American black metal cut, “Circle of Guilt”. It’s a decent song, and, like Integrity’s side of the split, it doesn’t really feel like they dug deep or worked too hard on the track. It’s a nice window into the band’s sound, but more of a bathhouse-sized window than a panoramic one. It’s with the second song, however, that Krieg steal the spotlight. “This Time I’ll Leave You to Drown” is a more DSBM-oriented piece than it’s predecessor, swaying with weighty ambiance by way of its moody, shoegaze-y guitar passages, from both the lead and backing parts. It’s not the most directional song on the album, but the atmosphere it sets in such a short time is excellent, and it is the best song on the album.
7 songs 1 of which is a grainy live recording, 2 of which are eh-inducing covers, 1 of which is a truly compelling piece of work, and the rest of which feels like scraps, for $9 on Bandcamp though? Sorry guys, had to just stream it.

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