Review by Adam M on April 19, 2011.

This band is one of the most interesting you’ll find in metal. They use a relatively simple template and add orchestral elements to make a more bombastic listen than may originally meet the eye. There’s an obvious love for anything medieval to be found with The Meads Of Asphodel and it shines through clearly in every note they write.

The songs are catchy, but multi-layered and deceptively thoughtful. One of impressive elements to found is the use of gruff vocals that are distinctly Black Metal in nature, but are combined here with the likes of operatic female ones for a unique mixture. This is evident from the early track 'My Psychotic Sand Deity', which is one of the highlights along with 'Addicted To God'. Throughout this release it seems like something is out of place, but everything works really well. The unique and infectious nature of the music wins out over any weirdness that might creep through. The music is energetic enough to lift up the spirits of the listener, but it takes time. "The Murder Of Jesus The Jew" didn’t initially win me over, but careful listening revealed outstanding details. The tracks are best listened to in a quiet atmosphere where the sound is allowed to be as crisp and clear as possible. They take time and focus to absorb the nuances much in the way a band like Mr.Bungle does.

Once the entire tapestry fits into place, be prepared for a very enjoyable listening experience. That’s not to say The Meads Of Asphodel achieve brilliance, because moments that drag and bog down prevent them from ever doing so. Still, these are outshone by others that are simply magical, such as the breakdown in 'Genesis Of Death'. "The Murder Of Jesus The Jew" is a highly recommended album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 8.7

Rating:8.7 out of 10

Review by JD on July 24, 2010.

Split CD’s are sometimes the best sway to be showcasing two great bands. Or it can show a band that is not quite ready for having a proper full album. Either way, it is interesting to see what ever the packaging could bring to the table.

UK’s Old Corpse Road is one of the bands I really do appreciate. They play the style of brutally heavy Pagan Metal just the way I like it to be done. This is just the next step in their journey, a journey that I am glad to be on with them. They have equal amounts of being massively heavy yet have a amazing amount of talent that just accents their sheer force... not too many other bands can combine the two. The only drawback is that I want a full album, but I gotta be patient I guess.

The Meads Of Asphodel hails also from Britain as well, playing true Black Metal with the added punch of Death Metal. Powerful as they are unrepentant of their dark leanings, they match up well with OCR and makes this split CD totally enjoyable. With heaviness matching up with power, this band should be acclaimed for not only musically being punishing, but with the ability to write engrossing and smart lyrics that match up so well with the music.

This split CD is one of the best I have heard displaying to deserving bands. It is worth your while to get it, especially if these are bands you don’t know yet. Both deserve and need to be listened to, to be appreciated and just to be.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 8.5
Production: 9
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.7 out of 10