Relentless (Swe)/Ruin (Swe): Split CD
Brutal Death Metal, Grindcore (Relentless)
Death Metal, Thrash (Ruin)
Relapse Records
2008
  1. Welcome To Insanity - 1:42 (Ruin)
  2. The Black Angel - 1:56 (Ruin)
  3. Tainted Soul - 2:52 (Ruin)
  4. Ruin The World - 1:17 (Ruin)
  5. Insomnia - 3:38 (Ruin)
  6. Falling Down - 2:53 (Ruin)
  7. This Is Where I Burn Them - 2:50 (Relentless)
  8. Perish In Blasphemy - 1:37 (Relentless)
  9. Incarcerated - 4:30 (Relentless)
  10. The Suicidal Dilemma - 3:10 (Relentless)
Originally posted on February 25th, 2009
Review
Usually split CDs seem to slip under the radar to everyone but the rabid fans. This is one of those types of split CD releases. It's sad that it has happened because the two bands on this release are actually very talented and deserve more exposure. But for now, this will have to do.

First up on this split CD is the Swedish band Ruin, which takes you on a wild trip to the past when thrash and death metal were just starting out and had trace elements of crust punk included in it. The opening track "Welcome To Insanity" explains it all as every song this band contibuted is simply insane and well written. And then you have the Swedish brutal death act Relentless, which only has four songs on this release. The songs contibuted are pretty well done, aside for "Perish In Blasphemy" which is a blistering song, but it may lose it's appeal after a few spins.

While Ruin bring in a feeling of old school sounds, Relentless have a more modern sound to their metal. The only real draWback is that Relentless' music isn't all that appealing. While at time it is blistering, it gets rather boring and just seems a bit repatitive. Plus when the band drops down from blistering towards insanely slow, like on "Incarcerated".

What is there really to say about this? It's nothing absolutely spectacular, but for the most part, it's worth it to listen to the nostalgic sound present during Ruin's tracks. The more toned down brutal death music of Relentless has it's moments at times with it's multi-leveled accompanying background screams like thos one "The Suicidal Dilemma", as well as the insane moments the band does present kind of hinders the music, but it's clear the band has enough talent that future releases will be better then what is present here.