Iggor Cavalera/Shane Embury - Neon Gods/Own Your Darkness Split Review

This certainly wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025. Two of extreme metal’s most notable names coming together to not only release an album together, but one that is incredibly unique and uncharacteristic across the board. Iggor Cavalera (Ex-Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy) and Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept) have joined forces to release a two song album entitled ‘Neon Gods/Own Your Darkness’ that showcases different sides of these artists that no one saw coming.
 
The first track is Iggor’s “Neon Gods” which is a 20 minute ambient soundscape that makes you feel like you’re walking through a static snowstorm and can hear the wind wreak havoc on its environment. There are also some industrial influences peppered throughout. Generally, speaking, there aren’t any vocals per se, but around the 16 minute mark there are some spoken words that are also staticky. Shane’s effort comes by the way of “Own Your Darkness” which is 14 minutes of bleak, dissonant and droning synth lines. This release won’t be for everybody, but for those who are fans of pummeling dystopian emptiness will love it.

~TJ