French Metal

Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses

Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses

It’s becoming apparent that our filtering systems work quite well! The crew has done a fine job pulling filth from the workings and releasing the pressure to the system. A second too late and the toilets would have backed up.

Nemedian Chronicles – The Savage Sword Review

Nemedian Chronicles – The Savage Sword Review

“Storytelling is intrinsic to the passage of knowledge from generation to generation. Within our steel-forged corner of the multiverse, a few subgenres tackle storytelling overtly: most often prog but also, as is the case today, power metal. Coming into this review, I was under the impression that the story of Conan the Barbarian was confined to the plot line of an old Arnold movie—I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The Hyborian Age is a sprawling prehistoric world designed by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s, set between the fall of Atlantis and the rise of traditional history. Enter French band Nemedian Chronicles and their 70-minute slab of sword and sorcery, ripped straight from the pages of Howard’s tales.” Swords, hordes, and chords.

Necrowretch – Swords of Dajjal Review

Necrowretch – Swords of Dajjal Review

“It’s almost four years since I reviewed French blackened death outfit Necrowretch’s fourth record, The Ones from Hell, a record I enjoyed quite a bit. Harsh, claustrophobic death metal with a nasty blackened edge, it was almost sludgy in its sound at times. I had a few minor quibbles about the songwriting and pacing of the record, and a bigger gripe with the production, but it remained a very good record. The band regrouped and began working on the follow-up, Swords of Dajjal, which was three years in the making. Having swept up a new drummer and bassist along the way, was it time well spent?” Burning swords of religion and rage.

Exocrine – Legend Review

Exocrine – Legend Review

“Despite the middling average score French tech death quartet Exocrine earned on this here blog, I’m a staunch defender of the band’s style. I loved Molten Giant and The Hybrid Suns musically, and thought Maelstrom was an interesting, albeit flawed, exploration of their established sound. The biggest issue holding them back has always been production, cursed to gasp for breath and struggle for room inside a dense concrete block. It’s a shame because if someone else with a gentler touch helped them out in the mastering suite, I’m convinced Exocrine’s track record on this blog would be a more positive one. I picked up their latest, entitled Legend, in the hopes that it shifts that legacy in the right direction.” Of myth or of legend?

Abduction – Toutes Blessent La Dernière Tue Review

Abduction – Toutes Blessent La Dernière Tue Review

“I have been known to say that metal is (probably) the only area where I strongly believe that being French indicates quality. Black and post-black metal particularly, with Alcest, Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Vous Autres, and Blut Aus Nord amongst my personal favorites. None of those acts really have anything in common with Abduction, though, besides the band members’ first language. Also not to be confused with the UK atmospheric black metal act of the same name, Abduction’s style strikes a balance between the frostiness of second-wave, the medieval melodic bent of Véhémence and the wistful folkiness of Cân Bardd.” French style.

Karras – We Poison Their Young Review

Karras – We Poison Their Young Review

“Named after Father Damian Karras from The Exorcist, this French power(violence) trio expend tons of energy and vinegar, but precious little time, on their second full-length We Poison Their Young. To quote the vernacular, this strikes the face and/or buttocks region with an open-palm swipe AND it has enjoyable recreational sexual intercourse. This is the type of grind and punky, powerful powerviolence that your late grandpappy warned you about when he was cradling his shotgun from the comfort of his rocking chair on the porch, all while blaring Napalm Death and Nasum at ear-bleeding volumes.” Commence to grinding, son!

Ars Moriendi – Lorsque Les Coeurs S’assèchent Review

Ars Moriendi – Lorsque Les Coeurs S’assèchent Review

“This time, Ars Moriendi has ditched many of the horn and wind atmospheres for traditional atmoblack ones. Instead of bombastic symphonies coating his vicious black metal slayings and soothing acoustic guitars, this focused approach allows Arsonist to explore and tinker with guitar-led atmospheres, female choirs, and bizarre yet unique effects. The result isn’t so much a change in direction as a new experiment. Though I know Ars Moriendi well, nothing prepared me for Lorsque Les Coeurs S’assèchent.” Atmo-blast.

Ǥứŕū – Nova Lvx Review

Ǥứŕū – Nova Lvx Review

“Just as the painting focuses on a spectrum of blacks, earth tones, and distortion, so Ǥứŕū does with their fusion of black metal and doom metal. Expect the typical unholy blackened trinity of shrieks, tremolo, and blastbeats, alongside the dramatic and full-bodied baritone and thicker tone of doom.” Painting with tar.

Sunbeam Overdrive – Diama Review

Sunbeam Overdrive – Diama Review

Sunbeam Overdrive as a name conjures the gaudy—a would-be leisure suit-wearing hotshot cruising down the coastal highway, top-down, sunglasses on, radio cranked. But the 90’s California kid in me hears this modern style of progressive metal that borrows more from aged successful radio-friendly acts like A Perfect Circle and Sevendust than anyone who plays in the more expected noodling and tricky rhythm definitions of the genre.” Sun’s out, prog’s out.