In an act of genre-bending defiance, two titans of doom have teamed up to introduce some wretchedness into traditional American folk songs. Khemmis, whose sophomore album "Hunted" seemed to make an appearance on every "Best of 2016" list last year, and Spirit Adrift, a one-man master of melancholy, just put out "Fraught With Peril", a split where each band covers a classic tune with origins in the early 20th century. Both songs are completely uncompromising and put the heaviness second to none. The bands each have a style that draws the misery out of these songs to help you experience a fragment of the pain that inspired them. Khemmis tackles "A Conversation With Death", a song that was originally written by Lloyd Chandler but was twisted by oral tradition until it was overshadowed by a more popular variation, "O Death". Their rendition starts with a haunting, powerful vocal intro before divulging into a deep, full-band heavy metal dirge. It's definitely got a lot of the sound that they are known for - slow, tragic, and well produced. Afterwards, Spirit Adrift sings lamentations on "Man of Constant Sorrow", most often attributed to Dick Burnett. Again, the track starts with vocal harmonies before swiftly descending into a woeful piece with a wide breadth. The rhythm hits a low thunder and the vocals moan with grief, but the guitar leads bring in a touch of southern twang that hearkens back to the song's roots. On their own, these pieces are awesome, but paired together they become a massive combo that speaks to the timelessness of human suffering. This is definitely more than a couple of cover songs, this is a continuation of musical legacy. -Brandon
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