Splits can be one of the best opportunities a band can get. Lesser known bands can partner up with a larger band and can get some well deserved exposure. Fan bases of both parties involved can hopefully discover yet another band they would like, and ultimately everyone wins, right? Well in theory because both bands should be at the same quality level. It doesn't do your band any good if you're being beaten at songwriting by someone else on the same release. Which pretty much sums up the Full Of Hell and Code Orange split.
Full of Hell easily emerges as the better of the two, starting things off with
Fox Womb, which could very well be one of the bands best songs. Everything is executed flawlessly as the song goes from it's sludgy intro a passionate, angry, and downright indignant blackened hardcore section. Wretched vocals punctuate the song as it fades out and another fantastic song from the group begins. In short Full of Hell completely slay, and in two songs demonstrate how blackened, sludgy hardcore should be played.
Then we get to Code Orange and things aren't so bright. They continue the trend of being one of the most bland bands in this style of music. Sure things are passionate but it's missing something. The songs are put together in such a clunky way it makes it hard to enjoy them as a whole.
My Mind is a Prison begins excellently it's almost as intense as Full of Hell's songs, but when it moves into the ambient section it's just not done well. It comes off as so trite and tacky when the song finally explodes in an admittedly satisfying way, it's already kind of ruined. The riff at the beginning of [i]My Body is a Well rules so hard and get's you all pumped but there literally is no transition into the next part. It just kind of happens and it doesn't even sound that good in the first place. Both Code Orange songs just kind of happen while the Full of Hell songs blend together in a very satisfying way.
To be clear The Code Orange side of things isn't really all that bad. As mentioned in the intro the key word is contrast. Full Of Hell just do things so well on their side could you really just accept something that is just 'okay'? Fans of both bands can most definitely find something of value through the whole thing and it is definitely a recommended listen, hell even if you like just one of these guys you should check this out. Just don't be expecting the fire to burn all the way through.
