ZONE SIX / VESPERO: ‎THE SPLIT THING

4.5 stars. "The Split Thing" is a collaboration between Germany's ZONE SIX and Russia's VESPERO where they offer us about 24 minutes each of their own studio time to come up with some delicious Space Rock. This isn't one of those live events where both played on stage together or anything like that, this is strictly what they came up with in their own studios. And man it's like they were trying to one-up each other, such a high quality release. This is right in my wheelhouse as far as VESPERO goes as this was released in 2012 and my top three albums from them are 2009's "Surpassing All Kings", 2010's "By The Waters Of Tomorrow" and 2013's "Droga". Just a big fan of their sound with the flute and mellotron and they're a bigger band than ZONE SIX who are led by David Schmidt AKA Sula Bassana playing guitar and adding FX here. Komet Lulu adds bass and did the cover art and some beauty. Hey she's a talented girl and one of the founding members of ELECTRIC MOON. Martin Schorn on synths is amazing and we get a drummer.

My first couple of spins had me giving ZONE SIX the win as far as what I liked the best but that changed after many listens. While ZONE SIX adds one long repetitive but flavourful track VESPERO divided their 24 minutes into three songs and I love these tunes man.

"Babapapatantramanta" is the closer and the ZONE SIX track that opens with electronics twittering and pulsing before guitar joins in this spacey and experimental intro. Beats and a dark, heavy sound take over before a minute with spacey synths. Crunchy bass here, I mean ground shaking in this mid paced tempo. The guitar starts to solo over top after 5 minutes followed by guitar expressions. A calm 9 minutes in as the sounds echo in a powerful soundscape. It picks up again after 11 minutes, just crushing it before winding down around 21 minutes in.

VESPERO opens the album with "Nullus" and that opening guitar sure sounds like one of the IRON MAIDEN guys, that tone just sounds so pleasant. Percussion and more support before a second guitar joins in but that changes when the organ starts to lead. I'm just so into this. Nice bass here too but the organ stands out before being replaced by the synths. Organ is back late. "Clouds" opens with electronics, drums and melancholic flute. The guitar replaces the flute with soaring leads. So many beats here too. A couple of calms will follow and the electronics from the intro come and go and the flute returns late.

"Lifeless Pillars" opens with Post-Rock styled guitars that step aside fairly quickly returning late to end it. Drums and spacey synths join in then the guitar becomes intricate and synths will then lead the way. A calm with mid-paced sequencers is cool but that warmth before 7 minutes when the leave is nice.

Man close to 5 stars and one of my favourites in this style. I'm looking forward to reviewing ZONE SIX's first live record this Summer.