THE RIVER / THE HUMAN CONDITION - Split EP CD

(Cavernous Records)

The Human Condition are stalwarts of the UK underground scene, its member’s lineage stretching as far back as the early nineties & incorporating such luminaries as Burial, Unsilence & The River. The band plays progressive doom metal, mixing traditional aesthetics with a more mature song writing focus & an increased technical proficiency, topped off with introspective lyrics & emotional vocals.

The River have blossomed from the monolithic bludgeon of their earlier output into a much more nuanced & thoughtful proposition. The band now paints with broader strokes & more vibrant colours, their constantly evolving sound incorporating richer textures & movements whilst staying true to their initial heavier aesthetics & ideas.

Both bands have recorded two songs for this release: one new song & one older song, recorded live in the studio.

The Human Condition contribute “Mirrors”, a soaring call to arms exploring self-reflection & “End of Man”, the first song the band ever wrote which, until now, has never seen the light of day.

For their part, The River contribute “Dry Mountains Burn”, a lush textural landscape of ever moving parts & a fresh arrangement of “Passing”; a song originally found on their 2019 album, “Vessels into White Tides”.

All four songs were mastered at Redwall Studios by Sheldon Jolly, with artwork collated between the bands, to make the release a holistic & cohesive whole.