Originally released back in 2009 on vinyl, the initial run of this split sold old. At just 500 records pressed, it was only a matter of time before this 7” was gone forever. Considering the slow groundswell that Tokyo, Japan’s Coffins has been enjoying over the past few years, it was inevitable.

What else that was inevitable is that the kind fiends over at Horror Pain Gore Death Productions would once again make this two-song slab of old school death metal available again. On vinyl again for its second life, this run of the 7” split between Coffins and Las Vegas-based Spun in Darkness is also limited to 500 copies but with slightly altered artwork.

Kicking off the split is “Corpse Parade” by Coffins, a slow crawler of putrid death metal in typical Coffins form (i.e.: similar to Asphyx, Autopsy, some Grave, Cianide, etc). The song ebbs and flows smoothly, but the real sticking point is how heavy the track is. Coffins have never been the sort of band to go the finesse route or the type to intertwine all sorts of melodies, and “Corpse Parade” sticks to that winning formula. Though the song isn’t anything remarkable in terms of originality, it is vintage Coffins and that’s always a plus.

The second part to the 7” is “Bloodless” from one of Sin City’s best bands Spun in Darkness. Though it’s not really known as a metal hotbed, Las Vegas does have several solid metal acts floating around and Spun in Darkness is among the leaders of the current wave in the city. “Bloodless” is similar to what Coffins offered up on this split, though it’s a little more streamlined and groovier than “Corpse Parade.” Though it still follows a familiar formula of Autopsy/Asphyx/Cianide/etc, there is bit of good Six Feet Under and Cancer as well.

7” splits are always fun to scoop up because they are inexpensive and terse; this one is no different. It’s also a good way to unearth some rare tracks from underground bands or sample some tunes from artists one might not normally ingest. Though “Bloodless” was made available on Spun in Darkness’ 2010 full-length Feast of the Undead, that album isn’t exactly available everywhere. And unless you own Coffins’ Ancient Torture compilation album that’s filled with B-sides and split songs, you won’t find “Corpse Parade” anywhere else.

 

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