Hessian and YHWH Unite for Rapture and Perversion Split EP
Two uncompromising corners of the black metal underground collide on Rapture and Perversion, a split EP from Hessian and YHWH scheduled for release on July 24, 2026 through Wormholedeath. The collaboration brings together Hessian’s restless, constantly changing creative model and YHWH’s ritualistic Belgian-Thai approach, with both projects using the short format to sharpen their most hostile and atmospheric instincts.
Two Paths Into the Same Darkness
The split was reportedly planned for almost a year, but both bands delayed its completion while working on other material. That pause appears to have helped rather than hurt the final result. Instead of sounding like two unrelated recordings placed side by side, Rapture and Perversion has been presented as a continuous descent through occult atmosphere, abrasive riffing and direct, unfiltered aggression.
Hessian arrives at the release in another period of transition. Project founder Laremy Wade handles both guitars and vocals, while Imperious Noctem returns on drums. Wade has spent the last several years treating Hessian less like a fixed lineup and more like a moving underground collective, inviting different musicians into individual releases while maintaining control of the project’s central identity. That approach has produced collaborations with Frostmorner, Thoth, Crotalos, Dromo’ and members connected to Nunslaughter and Murder Records.
Hessian’s Long and Unusual Evolution
The roots of Hessian reach back to 2002, when Wade recorded under the name Madame Durant. The project later became Utuk Xul Commands Worship, disappeared, briefly returned as a hardcore street-punk act and eventually moved back toward extreme metal. Hessian’s self-titled album arrived through Wormholedeath in January 2025, establishing the current incarnation before Wade began rotating guest personnel across subsequent singles, EPs and splits.
That history matters because Hessian’s music has never remained neatly contained within one version of black metal. The project has absorbed punk urgency, raw production, occult themes and the loose danger of collaborative recording. On this split, Wade’s return to vocals gives the material a more personal and immediate character.
YHWH Bring a Ritualistic Counterweight
YHWH were formed in 2024 by siblings Schem HaMephorash and C. Bones, with S.M. Goatritual joining later that year. The Belgian-Thai band released the Tetragrammaton EP through Wormholedeath in April 2025, followed by Khatha. A third EP, Baghavat, is currently scheduled for October 30, 2026.
Where Hessian’s side appears driven by instability and personnel shifts, YHWH offer a more ceremonial presence. The combination should suit listeners drawn to black metal that values atmosphere and conviction over polished precision. The appeal of a split like this is not simply hearing two bands on one release. It is hearing how one band’s attack changes the way the other is perceived.
Editorial Perspective
Rapture and Perversion sounds positioned as a genuine underground exchange rather than a promotional pairing. Hessian bring the volatile energy of a project that changes shape from release to release, while YHWH contribute a darker sense of ritual and continuity. That contrast gives the split its potential. If the transition between the two sides is as seamless as promised, the EP may feel less like a compilation and more like one extended act of invocation.
The EP can be pre-saved through the official release page. Hessian can be followed through their Linktree and Instagram. YHWH are available through Bandcamp and Instagram.