...Inconvertibility

Someone familiar with both bands mentioned in the title of this review would be struck by the overall similarities of both of them. In fact, said person might actually bewildered not only what made the persons start a new project but whether those ambient/noise instrumentals justify the creation of a new band after all. Interestingly, or curiously enough, it is those pieces that are at least able to build-up some sort of atmosphere and tension. Both the intro and the outro appear rather intense and are actually ‘dark’. Field-recordings merged together with some ambient textures as well as several noise effects and the result is that the listener is dragged down into an otherworldly environment and this is actually able to create something noteworthy. The metal parts on the other hand never ever reach this point at all. In fact, after the opener there is a huge drop in terms of the atmosphere and everything that had been built-up by the ambient parts is left in shattered fragments.

The equation used as a description for this review sums up the general approach of the band very neatly as well as succinctly. Ossadogva’s art was heavily influenced by the depressive black metal sub-genre and relied heavily on repetitiveness as well as monotony in the motives. On top of this screams were placed, while the in the background the drum-machine set some sort of pace. Cold of Tombstone are slightly different and it is therefore appropriate to add something to Ossadogva’s concept in order to reach the new one. What is this ‘X’, then?

Well, the music of CoT is generally more complex, has more facets and also the drums play a larger role here. Furthermore, despite the similarity in the approach, this new music is more appealing and does not drown in the pretentiousness of the depressive black metal genre; the never ending bemoaning of one’s misery and the horrible situation on this planet. Nevertheless, the vocals appear in a rather similar way and their performance was reduced to some sort of screaming, which makes it impossible to grasp anything of the lyrics. As such, it is also due to their part that the chances to actually enjoy this piece of art might not be high for a lot of black metal fans. The music itself is listenable and comes with rather average riffs and ideas.

Inconvertibility sounds like an album not many will be able to switch on their frequency. CoT’s style is simply too limited and too predictable – in terms of the black metal – to create a lasting impression. It is revealing when the best moments on this album are those that have nothing to do with metal at all.