Few records manage to strike the delicate balance between blistering intensity and crushing weight as the Split LP by Vienna-based bands Discure and Amer. This split album serves as a jaw-dropping showcase of two radically different approaches to extreme music, tied together by their commitment to raw power, emotional depth, and unrelenting aggression. Discure, with their neo-crust and blackened hardcore influences, deliver a side of the album that’s fast, furious, and ferociously intense, while Amer offers a contrasting yet complementary post-metal and sludge assault that is slower, heavier, and undeniably crushing. Together, these two bands create a thrilling and punishing sonic landscape.
Starting with Discure’s side of the LP, the listener is immediately thrown into a whirlwind of aggressive soundscapes. Known for their blend of neo-crust, blackened hardcore, and grindcore, Discure’s five-track contribution is a masterclass in controlled chaos. The vocals are a standout feature here, with the vocalist delivering everything from throat-shredding screams to potent shout-outs that feel like battle cries in the midst of a sonic storm. The vocal delivery is dynamic, effortlessly transitioning between blood-curdling screams and fierce narrations that guide the listener through the whirlwind of emotion and brutality present in each track. On tracks like “Welk” and “Heute Nicht,” the vocals hit with such intensity that they become a central force, compelling the listener to hang on to every word. But it’s not just the vocals that make Discure’s side of the split so impressive. The guitar work is equally jaw-dropping, with the rhythm and lead guitars threading blackened melodies, scorching riffs, and relentlessly heavy chord progressions. Each track features distorted, razor-sharp, and crushingly heavy guitars, creating an atmosphere of raw, visceral intensity. Discure excels at blending melody with chaos, with the blackened elements in their sound providing an eerie, haunting edge to the relentless onslaught of hardcore punk and grindcore influences. The riffs on “Schlaf” are as memorable as they are aggressive, driving the song forward with a furious momentum that feels unstoppable.
Beneath all of this, the bass guitar holds it all together with warmth, heaviness, and clarity. The basslines, which are vividly hearable throughout Discure’s contribution, provide a solid foundation for the rest of the band to build upon. In tracks like “Blutende Mauern,” the bass adds a sense of depth and fullness to the sound, binding the frenetic guitars and frantic drumming together while offering a hefty low-end punch that enhances the overall impact of the songs. The interplay between the bass and guitars is particularly noticeable in the slower, more groove-oriented sections of the album, where the heaviness of the bass adds an almost suffocating weight to the music. And then there’s the drumming—a feat of pure stamina and precision. Discure’s drummer is a madman behind the kit, delivering a barrage of blastbeats, manic fills, and fast-paced beats that elevate the intensity of every track. The rhythmic acrobatics on “Blutende Mauern” are nothing short of astonishing, with the drummer maintaining a breakneck pace while never losing control of the chaos. The constant shifts in tempo and the sheer speed of the drumming make for an exhilarating experience, as the drummer seems to push the limits of what’s physically possible in terms of speed and precision. The breakdowns, too, are delivered with incredible power, hitting like sledgehammers and providing a brief moment of release before the band ramps up the intensity once again.
If Discure’s side of the split is a hurricane of furious energy, Amer’s side is a monolithic wall of sound that moves like a glacier—slow, heavy, and utterly unstoppable. With their blend of post-metal, sludge, and doom, Amer offers a counterpoint to Discure’s fast-paced assault by focusing on creating a dense, atmospheric sound that’s equally as intense but in a different way. Amer’s three tracks are longer, allowing the band to explore more expansive soundscapes and build a sense of tension and release that contrasts beautifully with Discure’s frenetic energy. The vocals on Amer’s side are no less impressive, featuring an incredible range of guttural screams that move seamlessly between low, mid, and high registers. The vocalist’s delivery on tracks like “The Void Stares Back” is as harrowing as it is powerful, with each scream echoing through the dense layers of sound created by the rest of the band. There’s a rawness and emotional weight to the vocals that amplifies the crushing heaviness of the music, adding a layer of depth that makes each track feel like an epic journey into darkness.
Amer’s guitar work is equally stellar, with the interplay between rhythm and lead guitars creating a thick, abrasive sound that’s simultaneously raw and melodic. The riffs on “IV” are slow and crushing, but there’s a melodic undercurrent that gives the track a haunting beauty amidst the heaviness. The leads, while not as frenetic as Discure’s, offer a sense of foreboding that complements the sheer weight of the rhythm guitars. The guitar harmonies on “IV” are a particular highlight, blending dissonance and melody in a way that adds to the track’s overwhelming sense of despair and doom. Once again, the bass plays a crucial role in tying everything together. Amer’s basslines are ultra-heavy and thick, providing a sense of heftiness that grounds the more atmospheric elements of the music. The low-end rumble of the bass on “V” adds a sense of depth and power to the already massive sound, making it feel as though the music is crashing down upon the listener like a tidal wave. The drumming on Amer’s side is equally impressive, though in a more controlled and deliberate way than Discure’s frantic attack. The drummer dictates the tempo with precision, using dynamic fills, breaks, and half-time beats to drive the music forward while maintaining a sense of groove and space. The drums on “VI” are especially noteworthy, with the drummer’s ability to switch between slow and crushing beats, and more intricate rhythms adding a layer of complexity to the otherwise doom-laden atmosphere.
This Split LP by Discure and Amer is a masterpiece of contrasts—two bands with different approaches to extreme music, but both delivering incredible performances that complement each other perfectly. Discure’s neo-crust and blackened hardcore barrage is the perfect foil to Amer’s slow, crushing post-metal and sludge compositions. The result is an excellent split album, offering something for fans of fast, aggressive hardcore punk and slow, heavy sludge. It’s a split that demands your attention from start to finish. Don’t miss your chance to grab the vinyl via Grazil Records and experience this sonic onslaught for yourself.
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