In some cases, split releases do compile together random acts who have little to do with each other. But in some (rare) cases, the end result bears a greater purpose, forging an alliance in darkness if you will. Such is the case here with cult black/doom/progressive Sicilian act SINOATH, sharing this highly collectable piece of wax with fellow countrymen MALAURIU.

Both bands don’t just share Sicilian origins. Besides, compared to SINOATH whose never-ending quest started all the way back to 1990 MALAURIU is a rather ‘new’, if quite productive with already two full-lenght and a whole lot of EP and demos under its belt, act, having being active for ‘only’ ten years. So one could also argue that stylistically speaking, the two are quite different: whereas MALAURIU is more or less acquainted with black-metal, albeit a quite experimental version of it, SINOATH sound is far more old-school oriented, if as everchanging. Yet both acts are all about pushing boundaries and following a very personal path.

Talking of SINOATH, the latter contribution ‘Symphony Of The Scythe’ sees them revisiting in a way their roots, inspired by a vision of death and its role in our everyday life. A one-of-a-kind track dedicated to the late Massimo Chiofalo, who played guitar on their 2015 EP Meanders Of Doom. On the flipside, MALAURIU’ song, ‘Scuru’, is as idiosyncratic, throwing out of the window all known so-called conventions in favour of something unique and utterly ‘out there’. The track also benefits from the presence of Regen Graves from ABYSMAL GRIEF on keyboards, adding the mystique.

Two great and hard-to-pigeonhole acts for one very special split EP, rooted in the classic Italian occult style yet with a different spin, courtesy of yours truly, DOOMENTIA RECORDS.

• 7" EP GATEFOLD
• Black colour
• Limited to 300 copies
• Release and shipping date: 20th January ´25