Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Experimental.

Format: Digital, Cassette.

Background/Info: This work is a split release between Italian artist Heinrich Wilhelm aka Heilige! and Japanese artist Vivian Slaughter aka Viviankrist.

Content: Heilige! takes off with a long duration cut that progressively builds up and creates a hostile atmosphere. Viviankrist deals with a more explicit Experimental approach although using raw sound treatments. This artist accomplished 2 cuts.

+ + + : I personally prefer Dark-Ambient driven music and that’s why Heilige! is my favorite here. But it’s not just about the music genre. This track has a visual appeal which is created by the ominous electronic creation of this track.

– – – : It’s a pity the work only features 3 cuts.

Conclusion: This is a production that will appeal for experienced lovers in the Dark-Ambient and Experimental genre.

Best songs: Heilige! “Iced”.

Rate: 6½.

Artists: https://heinrichwilhelm.bandcamp.com /   www.facebook.com/viviankrist1

“Split MMXXII” was self-released on 1 January 2022 on cassette and digitally. All tracks were composed and recorded at the end of 2021. The Heilige! side is the long piece “Iced”. The physical edition carries both artists; the digital Viviankrist side is sold separately from her own Bandcamp page. The front cover is a photograph of an ice cave near Grindelwald, Switzerland, taken around 1910.

Listen to “Split MMXXII”:

About Heilige! and Viviankrist

Heilige! is the project of Italian musician Heinrich Wilhelm, working in dark ambient and experimental electronics. Side-Line reviewed the EP “Riverside” in 2021. Other titles under the name include “Serpent’s Muzak” and “Blood Injection Erntegang”.

Viviankrist is the electronics, noise and experimental project of Eri Isaka, based in Oslo, Norway. She was formerly known as Vivian Slaughter in the Japanese band Gallhammer. Side-Line reviewed her album “Morgenrøde” on Cold Spring in 2019 and published a ‘Click Interview’ with Viviankrist the same year, in which she discussed her equipment-led working method.

“Split MMXXII” is the first release pairing the two artists, and Heinrich Wilhelm credits Isaka for the collaboration in the release notes.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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