The four way split, once primarily used by bedroom pornogrinders as a low-budget, take-what-you-can-get grab bag o’ crap (or was I the only one that shelled out cash for these CD-Rs? Keep this in mind at all times: I‘m really stupid), has been crossing over into more mainstream metal markets recently as a fun little format experiment and a nice way to get a quickie snapshot of what the area of origin's locals are up to. Waterloo (I don't get the reference either), featuring four bands from Spain, stars the following:

Another Kind of Death:
First song “Alcohol & Glitter” is fairly representative of what would’ve been considered clichécore back in the time before Eighteen Visions fully developed their Stone Temple Pilots obsession. Expect handclaps, Scars of Tomorrow-esque spokels, and rawk riffs filtered through the core coffee filter. You’ve heard it, but, providing that you’re not a rabid fan of the turn of the millennium metalcore, it has probably been a few years. “The Murder in Our Romance” brings to mind (Self-Titled)-era Zao, or at least the bands that aped them, and “Salted Tears” revs the engines, bringing the tempo up to an almost Dillinger Escape Plan level before settling into the usual stop n’ start riffing and dissonant chuggery. It’s solid for what it is, but, considering that you could probably find something better in your local bargain bin that houses recently orphaned Trustkill or Ferret releases from their “golden years” (provided that, you know, you really wanted to relive that era), I can't find a compelling reason for you to break out the hiking boots and explore further.

Adrift:
Three quick pecks of the skip button will bring you to “El Ladrido,” another entry into the sludgy Breach and Isis influenced post-metalcore that has been growing in numbers over in the EU. The lively drumming and some freer guitar lines makes Adrift into something more than your usual roarin’ snore n’ bore, but it lacks the catchiness of a Callisto, something that is key when it comes to the replayability factor. In fact, the band shares something in common with the earlier, speedier Callisto and maybe even the sadly deceased Comity (The slower bits on The Deus Ex-Machina as a Forgotten Genius, at least) in how they pepper these songs with slightly askew runs and an interest in a more “tech” oriented song construction. There are a whole heap of bands that sound similar, but at least there are hints of promise.

Moksha:
And, promise would be a good way to describe Moksha. With a lead throat that’s sorta similar to L-G Petrov, a dirty-ass, cheap sound (more on this later), and some well placed sludge groovers, Moksha might be one of the first bands I could aptly describe as sludge n’ roll. It’s a neat combination of a rocking good time with hints of core infused dissonance, Eyehategod-esque crushers, and some clever turns (blasts precede seriously catchy riffs that are followed by enough dun-da-da-naaaaaaaaas to make sure your air guitar never leaves your hands). Their selections are growers for sure (thank god for the sub-four minute running times, by the way), especially considering how I was initially repulsed by the crap drum production (the bass drum is like someone trying to drive a Vespa down plywood stairs), but once they’ve grown on you, it’s nearly impossible to expel the hooks from the grey matter. It’s fun stuff and it’s the lone unexpected surprise.

Moho:
If there’s a “big name” band on this split (and we‘re really stretching), it’s Moho, a name that might be unfamiliar to many, but certainly rings a bell to those that troll illicit Blogspot YSI centers. I can’t say that they’ve been making waves, but when the sludge tide rolls in, Moho has been one of the treats that it has dropped on our shore. Groundbreaking? Definitely not, in fact, it fits in with the very basic idea of sludge with rumbling lows, a snarling, punky attitude, and those irresistible riffs that sound like they’ve been rolling around in a pig pen all day. What they lack in overall variety, they make up for by creating a pitch-perfect atmosphere, the kind of unfriendly and morose haze that must cloud the brains of your average junkie day after day. It might not the best sludge I’ve heard, but there’s something to be said for bands that are able to execute their vision well.

So, is the split worth a look? If you’re still hankering for some hardcore dressed up as metal (Another Kind of Death and Adrift) and you‘re starting to branch out in your tastes, this might be worth your dollars, but I’m not sure two goodies out of four constitutes a must-buy for the rest of us. I’d even go as far as saying that you should wait for Moksha and Moho’s material to surface elsewhere. Could you say that the sludge in Spain falls in with the plain, then? Yep! I’m sorry, I had to. There’s a “Waterloo Sunset” joke somewhere in there too (Maybe, this four-way just needs to work out…the kinks. Cue the rimshot and flash the audience laugher signs), but I’ll let better men make ‘em. Give this one a pass.