The Oracle and Reign Find Middle Ground on New Split (Split Album Stream)

Split releases, at least the great and memorable ones, showcase two or more artists pushing each other into new territory. Take, for example, The Mountain Peaks of Prophecy, a release featuring dark ambient artist The Oracle and progressive black metal artist Reign. In this split, both distantly related artists move from their perceived comfort zones in order to meet their split mate in the nebulous artistic region between them. The Oracle, who is known more for his dungeon synth-related works, goes much heavier this time around, using plodding, industrial percussion and thick, heavily distorted bass guitar alongside his signature synthesizer work to make something almost shoegazing, but certainly dirgeful. Reign's half is blisteringly odd black metal, much like his other works, but with some key differences this time around. With sparing use of clean vocals and Hammond organ, Reign moves into even more progressive territory on this release. Pairing two disparate and not-super-related artists for a split can be a difficult game to play, but The Oracle and Reign do a fine job of making a cohesive release out of two very different sounds. 

Listen to The Mountain Peaks of Prophecy below. Oh, and the man on the cover? Do not be alarmed–this is not a Christian or "unblack" release, rather one that preoccupies itself with historical theology.

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The Mountain Peaks of Prophecy releases December 1st via Repose Records.