Farsot / Coldworld Toteninsel

Vinyl LP pressing. 2018 split release. On Toteninsel, two most distinct names in German black metal join forces to put their own spin on a famous painting: Farsot and ColdWorld. Ever since their 2007 debut IIII, which succeeded the yet "suicidal" demo 042103freitod Thuringia-based Farsot have dodged the genre's common themes and trappings to develop a unique aesthetic for themselves. Steeped in it, the quintet's current, fourth album Fail·Lure is a showcase in stylistic bravery while still not above honoring their roots. An associate of the group since long, Georg Börner was and is the sole driving force behind ColdWorld, an at times ambient-oriented projection of black metal whose icy soundscapes have unfolded in a comprehensive discography. The origins of Toteninsel lie way back, not least because of it's subject matter - Swiss Symbolist artist Arnold Böcklin's most famous and equally mysterious painting of the same name ("Isle of the Dead"), the first version of which was created in 1880. About ten years ago, Farsot recorded a song inspired by the image for a compilation that eventually did not come to be. Thus, the composition ended up in the proverbial drawer until recently; in revising their uncovered concept song, Farsot felt keen on writing another one with Toteninsel as it's theme, and as it turned out the musicians found an entirely new facet of their so-far established sound. The plan to release a single quickly expanded when Georg Börner showed interest in setting the painting to music as well. The result is an exceptional split ep, with both acts offering exclusive material while allowing for elements added to one of their two tracks from the respective other. Farsot's contributions focus earth as an element, where's ColdWorld's are dedicated to water.