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Resonance: Crimson Void (2016) is a split release by the atmospheric black metal acts Mare Cognitum and Aureole, both one man bands from the United States. I think it's easy to think of splits as throwaway promo releases for the artists involved with material taken from the artists' other, more major releases, however Resonance: Crimson Void is one of the ones that exists solely as its own entity with material written for and only available on it and with a length of about forty-one minutes feels very much like a full-length album in its own right. Just one made by two different artists. The release is available either as a vinyl or as a free digital download at this point in time.
Of the two artists on Resonance: Crimson Void I'm only previously familiar with Mare Cognitum, who at this point has built up an impressive back catalogue including the excellent Phobos Monolith (2014) and Sol (2013), a similar stand-alone split/collaboration album with Greek atmospheric black metal act Spectral Lore. I'm also incredibly hyped for the currently upcoming fourth full-length album Luminiferous Aether (2016). Aureole on the other hand is a new name on me, but the music, though it has its differences, compliments that of Mare Cognitum, which makes Resonance: Crimson Void a coherent listen. There are just four tracks in all, with Mare Cognitum handling the first half the album and Aureole handling the second. On the vinyl release that's one side each.
Having listened to Mare Cognitum's Phobos Monolith several times now, the sound that starts Resonance: Crimson Void is instantly familiar but feels somewhat more ambient in the background. Mare Cognitum has always stood for cosmic, spacey black metal but that vibe feels a little more amplified here compared to the last album. Aureole's tracks come over as somewhat more harsh and fuzzy sounding with less clear vocals, but the ambient parts when used come to the foreground more. To stick with the space analogy it could be said that Mare Cognitum represents the majestic side of space, while Aureole represents the harshness of it.
While I do slightly favour the tracks of Mare Cognitum to those of Aureole, Resonance: Crimson Void is an excellent black metal voyage through space throughout; a release that stands out well in Mare Cognitum's discography and I expect will do the same for Aureole once there are more releases to sit alongside, Aureole's only prior release being the debut album Alunar (2014), which Resonance: Crimson Void has made me want to check out, so I'd say that this split has been successful in that respect as well. And of course this has made me salivate all the more for the release of Mare Cognitum's Luminiferous Aether, which could easily end up being the black metal event of the year for me. In the meantime though Resonance: Crimson Void more than satisfies.