French Black Metal

SETH reveal cover art and album details for ‘La Morsure du Christ’

French black metal pioneers SETH are now revealing the cover artwork and album details for their upcoming record ‘La Morsure du Christ’.

The history of black metal formation SETH and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record. SETH has lit up the flame of those early days again with ‘La Morsure du Christ’, which can be seen as sequel to the highly acclaimed debut.

The record is set for worldwide release on May 7, via Season of Mist. Presales will start soon.

The band comments: “Our sixth album, written in a typically traditional nineties black metal, has been crafted as a faithful sequel to our 1998 debut album Les Blessures de L’Ame, released at the time by Season Of Mist. La Morsure du Christ offers seven tracks, all written in Alexandrine French poetry, to be unleashed as a tribute to the second anniversary of Notre-Dame de Paris devastating blaze.“

Tracklist:
1. La Morsure du Christ (05:54)
2. Métal Noir (04:55)
3. Sacrifice de Sang (06:25)
4. Ex-Cathédrale (06:49)
5. Hymne au Vampire (Acte III) (07:25)
6. Les Océans du Vide (07:05)
7. Le Triomphe de Lucifer (05:57)
Bonus tracks
8. Les Océans du Vide – Synth Version (04:25)
9. Sacrifice de Sang – Synth Version (03:14)
Total: 0:52:05

The history of black metal formation SETH and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record. SETH has lit up the flame of those early days again with ‘La Morsure du Christ’, which can be seen as sequel to the highly acclaimed debut.

The release of ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ quickly gained international attention and SETH built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album ‘Originators of the Northern Darkness’ alongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length ‘The Excellence’ came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song ‘Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound’.

Shortly after, the group recorded their third album ‘Divine-X’ (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.

Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album ‘Era-Decay’ (2004), two new members joined the ranks of SETH: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.

A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing ‘The Howling Spirit’ (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).   

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ in 2018, SETH exclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called ‘20 ans de Blasphème’. The band’s new line-up featured members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.

With the flame of SETH burning strong again, the French black metallers started writing new material. On the new record ‘La Morsure du Christ’ (a double meaning title: literally « The Bite of Christ » and phonetically « Christ’s death is certain »), they return to their original sound, employ French alexandrine verse in their lyrics and choose a striking image as an album art. The blazing inferno of the Notre-Dame de Paris is depicted on the cover, an event that shuddered the world on April 15, 2019. The release of the record marks the 2nd anniversary of the event.

It’s a powerful picture that conveys the very essence of ‘La Morsure du Christ.’ In a world moving further away from religion and spirituality, the demise of this landmark symbolizes the end of the Christian reign and the ultimate betrayal of God. From the ashes of the cathedral, a godless world will come into being. 

Line-up:
Guitar – Heimoth (Sinsaenum)
Drums – Alsvid (ex-Enthroned, AdPatres)
Vocals – Saint Vincent (BlackLodge, Vorkreist)
Bass – Esx Vnr (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack, ex-Glorior Belli)
Guitar – Drakhian (ex-Loudblast, Griffar)
Keys – Pierre Le Pape (Melted Space)

Links:
http://www.innomineseth.fr
http://instagram.com/sethblackmetal/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgTXE9Iko1vpm33RWIO0Xbg
https://twitter.com/SETHblackmetal
http://instagram.com/sethblackmetal/
https://www.facebook.com/innomineseth

Throane new EP “Une balle dans le pied” reviewed

I just got done listening to the new ep by French Black Metal act “Throane” released digitally, on cd and as 7″ this one 13 minute track is a masterpiece of emotion.

I have often said that different countries bring their own flavor (or slant) to Black Metal and where as the French were hard pressed to produce more than a handful of world class Death metal bands they have produced no enf of World Class BM acts (Alcest, Nocturnal Depression, Mutiltaion, Deathespell Omega etc) that never fail to blow you away, not sure why that is but who cares – I for one ain’t complaining!

This ep is more of a roller coaster of emotions or an aural nightmare masterpiece than a traditional verse chorus chorus structure. Even though Throane’s roots are firmly in black metal there is enough here for industrial music fans to also get excited about.

The Ep image btw is Throane main man’s Dehn Sora’s sister who is a nurse. Says Dehn “Working as a nurse in different services, her daily routine makes her face death, addicted personalities, terminally ill people. Walking through their homes, their souls. Walking on broken glass. But forced to get rid of it, at the end of every day. To stand still. And keep walking.”

“Une balle dans le pied“ was written, performed and recorded by Dehn Sora at the end of 2019. Julien T. who also plays the drums in live settings is responsible for recording the drums together with Francis Caste (KICKBACK, ARKHON INFAUSTUS, …) at the Studio Sainte-Marthe. Production and mixing were done by Tim De Gieter (AMENRA, …) at MuchLuv Studio, while famous Magnus Lindberg (CULT OF LUNA) took care of the mastering in Sweden.

Une balle dans le pied“ is available to order via the label’s EU shop, Bandcamp and US shop

REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER announce new shows

French black metal formation REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER have announced a run of new shows this autumn in France, Belgium and Germany. The first show is set to take place on October 2nd, 2020 in Strasbourg.

The band has previously announced an extensive European tour in March / April 2021, with UADA, VELNIAS and SOLBRUD. A full list of confirmed live dates can be found below.

REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER
02 Oct 20 Strasbourg (FR) La Laiterie
03 Oct 20 Metz (FR) Les Trinitaires
04 Oct 20 Montbéliard (FR) Théâtre de Montbéliard
09 Oct 20 Ivry-Sur-Seine (FR) La JIMI Festival
16 Oct 20 Bruxelles (BE) Le Botanique
30 Oct 20 Clermont-Ferrand (FR) La Coopérative de Mai
31 Oct 20 Annecy (FR) Le Brise Glace
14 Nov 20 Nantes (FR) Stereolux
26 Nov 20 Orléans (FR) L’Astrolabe
27 Nov 20 Dijon (FR) La Vapeur
28 Nov 20 Mâcon (FR) La Cave à Musique
03 Dec 20 Lyon (FR) L’Epicerie Moderne
04 Dec 20 Saint-Germain-En-Laye (FR) La Clef
08 Dec 20 Lille (FR) Le Grand Mix
10 Dec 20 Berlin (DE) De Mortum Et Diabolum
12 Dec 20 Paris (FR) Storm The Arena
18 Dec 20 Limoges (FR) CCM John Lennon
18 Feb 21 Paris (FR) Petit Bain

With UADA, VELNIAS and SOLBRUD
19 Mar 21 Berlin (DE) Walpurgisnacht
20 Mar 21 Salzburg (AT) Light of Darkness Festival
21 Mar 21 Munich (DE) Backstage
22 Mar 21 Winterthur (CH) Gaswerk
23 Mar 21 Colmar (FR) Le Grillen
25 Mar 21 Savigny de Temple (FR) L’empreinte
26 Mar 21 Hamburg (DE) Kulturpalast
27 Mar 21 Drachten (NL) Northern Darkness Fest
28 Mar 21 Rotterdam (NL) Baroeg
29 Mar 21 Cologne (DE) Club Volta
30 Mar 21 Leipzig (DE) Naumanns
31 Mar 21 Copenhagen (DK) Pumpehuset
01 Apr 21 Stockholm (SE) Slaktkyrkan
02 Apr 21 Oslo (NO) Inferno Metal Festival *
03 Apr 21 Aalborg (DK) Studenterhuset
04 Apr 21 Münster (DE) Culthe Festival
05 Apr 21 Poznan (PL) U Bazyla
06 Apr 21 Prague (CZ) Nova Chmelnice
07 Apr 21 Budapest (HU) Dürer Kert
08 Apr 21 Vienna (AT) Viper Room
09 Apr 21 Lichtenfels (DE) Ragnarök Festival
10 Apr 21 Karlsruhe (DE) Dude Fest

* Only REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER

REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER will be touring in support of their latest release ‘Ascension’. The cover artwork and tracklist can be found below. The artwork was created by Fortifem. Listen to the full album HERE

Track List:
I. L’Ascension (1:49)
II. A New Order (8:04)
III. The Renegade Son (8:01)
IV. The Crowning (9:26)
V. Stellar Cross (8 :10)
VI. La Tentation (2:28)
VII. Au Bord Du Gouffre (8:53)
Total playing time: 0:46:50

Find REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

Recording and Mixing: Francis Caste, Studio Sainte Marthe
Mastering: Francis Caste, Studio Sainte Marthe
Cover artwork: Fortifem

Line-up:
Vocals : T.C
Guitar : J.J.S
Guitar : A.M
Bass : A.B
Drums : R.R


Shop: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/RLHTAscension

Available Formats:
CD digipak, cassette and coloured vinyl

DEATHSPELL OMEGA set release date for new NOEVDIA album – reveal special video

Today, Norma Evangelium Diaboli announces May 24th as the international release date for Deathspell Omega‘s highly anticipated seventh album, The Furnaces of Palingenesia.

The Furnaces of Palingenesia is Janus in the midst of the 9th circle of Hell; a prophetic abomination recorded on gear ante anno 1984 vomiting 2084 in the shadows of the horns.

A special video for “Ad Arma! Ad Arma!” can be seen & heard here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Deathspell Omega’s The Furnaces of Palingenesia
1. Neither Meaning nor Justice
2. The Fires of Frustration
3. Ad Arma! Ad Arma!
4. Splinters from Your Mother’s Spine
5. Imitatio Dei
6. 1523
7. Sacrificial Theopathy
8. Standing on the Work of Slaves
9. Renegade Ashes
10. Absolutist Regeneration
11. You Cannot Even Find the Ruins…
MORE INFO:
www.deathspellomega.bandcamp.com

VORTEX OF END set release date for new OSMOSE album

Today, Osmose Productions sets May 31st as the international release date for Vortex of End‘s highly anticipated third album, Ardens Fvror, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Born in the northeast of France in the early 2000s, Vortex of End is one of the most uncompromising bands that has risen and terrorized a slowly dying black metal scene. Years have made Vortex of End‘s music richer, its violence harder, and its ritual more glorious, and the band thus became the spearhead of what French black metal should have never stopped being: a mix of totalitarian darkness, an elevation through pain, courage through destruction, intelligence through violence, accomplishment in blood. JOIN THE PHALANX. FEED THE EGREGORE
Cover art, by guitarist/vocalist PRZ, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Vortex of End’s Ardens Fvror
1. BFTIVV
2. Venomous Triangle
3. Voraciovs Egregore
4. Transvbstantiation
5. Ira Dei
6. Ov Dancing Snakes And Circling Crows
7. Emergence
8. Satvrnian Ascension

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/vortexofend
www.osmoseproductions.com
www.facebook.com/Osmose-Productions-192865300755575

Mystic Black Metal Act REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER sign to Season of Mist

Season of Mist are proud to announce the signing of the French black metal outfit REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER. The band will enter the studio in July, for the recording of their third full length album.

Regarding the signing, the French black metallers state the following: “The time has come to reveal the secrets that lay hidden behind the veil. We will enter the studio in July to record our next album. It will be the third part of our triptych, and we are very proud to collaborate with Season of Mist for this new chapter. The force of will is unstoppable!”

Listen to the band’s previous record ‘Exile’ HERE !
France’s REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER rose from the shadow in 2013 with a massive self-titled album released through Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions. The band instantly imprinted its vision in metal community: an epic blend of atmospheric black metal, sludge and death metal spreading out a dark universe inspired by the sacred scriptures. In 2015 “Exile” came out and intensified the quintet music, bringing in more extreme influences and developing a dramatic sense of narration through cunningly balanced songs.

REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER earned respect from metal community with intense and ritualistic lives shows, its mystic aura thrilled audience from Hellfest, Roadburn Festival, Dour Festival and multiple clubs across Europe playing alongside Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Yob, Enslaved, Amenra..

Today REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER joins force with Season of Mist to release the third part of their triptych set, further away from light, closer to the depths. <!–[endif]–>

  Line-up:
– Vocals : T.C
– Guitar : J.J.S
– Guitar : A.M
– Bass : A.B
– Drums : R.R

Links:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/rlhtband/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/regardeleshommestomber/?hl=fr
Bandcamp : https://rlht.bandcamp.com/

CENOTAPHE stream new NUCLEAR WAR NOW! mini-album

Today, French black metal cult Cénotaphe stream their highly anticipated new mini-album, Empyrée here:
Over the last several years, France’s Cénotaphe have unassumingly become one of the most promising new voices in black metal. Operating as a duo—each member with a long and distinguished résumé trailing behind him—multi-instrumentalist Fog performs all of the music, while Khaosgott handles the vocals. The band’s auspicious prior releases (a demo from 2015 and the 2018 Horizons MLP, both on the Finnish label Kuunpalvelus) established a foundation for the band to build upon, and the result is the magnificent Empyrée MLP. In both content and spirit, Cénotaphe draws inspiration from a constellation of 19th century French literary and artistic figures, such as Aloysius Bertrand, Théophile Gautier, Charles Beaudelaire, and the painter Odilon Redon. It is, however, the poet Stéphane Mallarmé who casts the longest shadow over the band. Mallarmé’s work is dense with inscrutable and tangled syntax, every poem an arcane cipher; however, despite his modern and unconventional style, Mallarmé tended to rely on stalwart and traditional poetic forms, like the sonnet. Within the framework of these rigid poetic structures, Mallarmé’s language was itself unconstrained, abstract, exquisitely lawless, but also excruciatingly methodical and intentional. 

There is a similar sensibility to Cénotaphe’s work. Regarded from a distance, one might not notice the idiosyncratic details that permeate it because the band remains so true to the form and spirit of black metal. But ensconced within the traditional structure of Cénotaphe’s songs are fractured melodies, disharmonies, sowing atonal discord under the surface of the song, like a violent undertow beneath a seemingly serene sea. The songs on this MLP all have an epic quality to them, and yet, none clocks in at more than seven minutes. The grandiosity of the tracks derives from their strength of composition, not overindulgence. The riffs are expansive, stretching out across the roiling pulse of the drums. The vocals, delivered entirely in French, hang in suspended animation, puncturing the surface of the song at precise points. Occasionally, the band modifies its approach, fleshing out the sound with keyboard flourishes or other instrumentation, but noticeably eschewing the use of guitar solos, despite being clearly in possession of the necessary skill. 

Nothing feels unintentional about Empyrée; it is a highly sculpted aesthetic creation. The album closes with a curious climax, a track that perhaps offers additional clues about the band’s musical interests: a near-instrumental cover of “End of the World” by the 1960s Greek prog pioneers Aphrodite’s Child, known for being Vangelis’ first band. Beginning slow, much the same as the original, the song evolves and accelerates, deftly bringing the album to a frantic crescendo, punctuated with piano notes and wordless vocals. Tying the album together is the cover art, a piece from 1893 entitled “In the Dust Cloud” by the Polish symbolist painter Jacek Malczewski.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Cénotaphe’s Empyrée
1. Centaures
2. Au sépulcre des astres
3. Face aux feux d’un soleil porphyr
4. Inanité des noirs mensonges
5. Même mort, il brûle
6. End of the world
more info:
www.nwnprod.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Nuclear-War-Now-Productions/114864651994141

French Black Metal Band Merrimack Premier “The Falsified Son” from their forthcoming album

MERRIMACK are now revealing the second crushing song taken from their forthcoming fifth full-length, which bears the title ‘Omegaphilia’ and will be released on June 9th.

MERRIMACK comment: “Our will to create a record that is more rooted in the 90’s era of black metal becomes pretty obvious on ‘The Falsified Son’, which is a straight forward and simple track. Our typical lead guitars, the slightly dissonant end, the addition of a guitar solo, and the mid-tempo middle break make it a strong tune, which has proved to be very well received at our latest live performances. The lyrics deal with the way of life that we have chosen and its consequences – with black metal (which is mentioned in the song) being an immense part of it.”

MERRIMACK have previously unveiled the cover art (by Dehn Sora) and track-list of ‘Omegaphilia’, which can both be viewed below.

Track-list
1. Cauterizing Cosmos
2. The Falsified Son
3. Apophatic Weaponry
4. Gutters of Pain
5. Sights in the Abysmal Lure
6. Cesspool Coronation
7. At the Vanguard of Deception

Musicians as any artists can be roughly categorised into different groups by their approach to composing. There are those for example, who come with restless souls and always try to find new ways and break into uncharted territories. Others prefer to evolve within a certain genre, driven by a desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. MERRIMACK as black metal traditionalists obviously belong to the latter circle and their fifth full-length with the apocalyptic title ‘Omegaphilia’ is an impressive demonstration of how far the French band has matured.

MERRIMACK are breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre, not by heaping up epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, but by razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements. ‘Omegaphilia’ achieves excellence through hard work and experience that shows through on every single song.

MERRIMACK were founded by guitarist Perversifier in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise, or turn the style into a self-parody.

With a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words. Although MERRIMACK decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’ (2002), the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time.

‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009) followed and witnessed MERRIMACK closing ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.

Following the recording of ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) again in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666), MERRIMACK embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze and Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada.

Having firmly established their black name and message around the globe, MERRIMACK are setting a bold exclamation mark with ‘Omegaphilia’. Be warned, this album is determined to remain in your playlist for a long time.

http://merrimack.satanslegions.com
www.facebook.com/merrimackofficial

Line-up
Perversifier – guitars
Vestal – vocals
A.K. – guitars
Daethorn – bass
Blastum – drums

Guest musicians
Aldrahn – vocals on “Cesspool Coronation”
Frater Stephane (NKRT) – rituals on “Cauterizing Cosmos”
The Chorale of Cachan – choir on “At the Vanguard of Deception”

Recording, mix, mastering: Andrew Guillotin at Hybreed Studios, France

Cover art: Dehn Sora