Primitive Man / Hell Split

February 2019 – Translation Loss Records

Primitive man doesn't need introductions, at least not since Relapse Records released Caustic in 2017 – an album which I admittedly skipped for some reason. I assume this is when they made a transition into a slightly more blackened territory, which is incredibly well-executed given the split they just delivered.

Ethan still has one of the best vocal tones outside of actual demons, his signature bark making an explosive return, their bass is still a goddamn millstone in weight and timbre, and my ears are still dulled from the whining amplifiers they let ring between songs. Pitiful & Loathsome is a return to form, with plodding, mesmerizing riffs and a primal, murderous rhythm. It's ominous, slow and suffocating, and breaks into the kind of chaotic rodeo Primitive Man hold the reins to so well. Oily Tears has a sharper definition, with better enunciated hatred both in voice and in riff. It's somewhat farther from their previous material, but no power is lost – it seems Ethan and his colleagues can do no wrong.

Their half is ruthless – many artists play off contrast between highs and lows, Primitive Man go from low to lower. Everything is hopeless, any chord that shines brighter is immediately darkened by the next in a hellish progression from discomfort to unease.

Hell only have one song on the split, but at 10 minutes it's a worthy contribution. As a fan of their self-titled 2017 album, I had high expectations going into in. Nuumen took me by surprise, with a tone reminiscent of Orange amplifier worship and bouncing riffs much more akin to classic sludge than their previous material suggested. Indeed, both halves of the split are very different, and while I did enjoy the Hell side for what it is, I can't shake the feeling that a heavier approach would've been more appropriate. The vocals were the main element tying them to their other records, the riffs losing the extreme qualities they had and replacing them with bluesy doom – an uncharacteristic move.

The split feels more like two EPs than an actual cohesive selection, and while both halves have their merits, I'm left somewhat disappointed by the latter one – Hell showed incredible promise during their previous album, and hopefully this is simply an experiment in lighter material.

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