Destruct / Svaveldioxid: Split 7″

Description

6 tracks of d-beat raw punk/kng. Vinyl comes housed in foldover screen printed cover with a double sided insert.

Co-release with Children of the Grave Records (France)

Our take: Frances Children of the Grave Records teams up with Prescription (Sorry State staffer Usmans label) to bring us this split 7 between two of modern d-beats heavyweight bands. You probably already know Destruct if you follow Sorry Statewe named both of their LPs Record of the Week when they came outbut hopefully youve also been paying attention to Swedens Svaveldioxid, who have released a whole slew of excellent records over the past decade. The two bands are well matched for a split 7, both playing metallic d-beat that perfectly balances traditionalist and progressive impulses. That being said, these are some of the leanest and meanest Destruct tracks to date, their two originals here built on spare riffing that leaves the focus on the rhythm sections jackhammer battering. Svaveldioxids rhythms also stick to the genres core points of inspiration, but they make room for some death metal nods in the guitar work and unexpected moments like the cool bass melody in Stillbilder. Alongside their two originals, each band covers one of the others songs, but youd hardly know they were cover songs if the sleeve didnt point it out. The bands dont sound worlds apart in the first place, but each really puts their own stamp on their respective version. Both sides of the split sound phenomenal, too, with Destruct recording with Lance at Minimum Wage Studios (who did that recent Ultimate Disaster LP that sounds so great) and Svaveldioxid at the legendary Sunlight Studios. I also have to call out the beautifully detail-oriented packaging on the physical release, which not only includes some excellent new Wombat illustrations, but also employs thoughtful choices of paper stock and printing methods to build a package that feels distinctive, yet consistent with each bands well-established aesthetic. Its easy for a split 7 on a couple of small labels to get lost in the shuffle, but if youre a d-beat fanatic, youd be loony to miss out on this.