French Metal

Impureza – La Caída De Tonatiuh Review

By GardensTale on November 15, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, 139 comments

“Metal is like a sponge: capable of sucking up any foreign juices. Classical music? We’ve seen that thousands of times since before In The Nightside Eclipse. Country? Not too common, but there’s a number of stoner and folk metal bands that incorporate its imagery. But flamenco? Sure, Allegaeon has the odd interlude, but it’s hardly integral to their sound, feeling more like a wacky gimmick than a serious crossover. Impureza take offense to the absence of flamenco metal, due to their proud Spanish herita- wait, they’re French?!” No expects the French-Aztec Inquisition. Seriously, nobody does.

Eternal Flight – Retrofuture Review

By Swordborn on November 15, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 49 comments

“Eternal Flight is a more varied creature than most that have been crawling around in the prog/power underground for the last 20 years. Whether as itself or as Dream Child, Eternal Flight has been slowly leaking albums since 1996, with Retrofuture being number six in total and fourth under the new moniker. Certainly better acquainted with a darker lyrical and melodic approach than most of their “power metal” cousins.” If it ain’t retrobroken, don’t retrofix it.

Silver Wind – Legion of the Exiled Review

By Swordborn on November 13, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Heavy Metal, No Remorse Records, Power Metal, Retro Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 40 comments

“France’s Silver Wind seems to be a pretty low-profile act, despite having formed (according to the label’s press release) in 2005. Legion Of The Exiled is the band’s first full-length, and an evident stepping stone from 2013’s Fight For Glory EP – which is regurgitated in its entirety (three songs) here. Comparisons of the band’s inceptive sound to Hammerfall and Enforcer incited some mild interest in me, but clones of this style are not exactly hard to find, and in my experience, the doppelgangers are almost invariably somewhat sloppy and/or without much novelty to them.” Something funky in the wind.

Blut Aus Nord – Deus Saluti Meæ Review

By Grymm on October 25, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 60 comments

“I’ve bounced back and forth on this review for Deus Saluti Meæ, the 12th studio album by French one-man black metal machine, Blut Aus Nord. As anyone who’s ever listened to them (him) before, the best way I can describe BaN’s discography would be to compare the band to a mighty oak tree. Some of the branches are frozen solid and covered in snow (Ultima Thulee, the Memoria Vetusta trilogy), while another branch is mold-ridden and diseased, looking like it’s moving in an uncomfortable manner (The Work Which Transforms God, MoRT, Odinist), and yet another looks manufactured (like formica), but is still teeming with undeniable living energy.” More bark than bite?

Throane – Plus une main à mordre Review

By Roquentin on October 25, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, Drone, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“In retrospect, Throane’s tantalizing début Derrière-Nous, La Lumière is one of those records whose piercing splinters, given time to gestate, have a tendency to deeply ingrain themselves into thoughts. Almost imperceptible at first, its monochromatic strokes paint uncomfortable rooms of the mind. Rooms filled with anguish and darkness, shaped equally by fears of the void and an existential dread of the mundane. Spaces hidden behind walls upon walls, repressed but always present. The idea of revisiting this world is one that is simultaneously exhilarating and frightening.” Splinters in the mind’s eye.

Wheelfall – The Atrocity Reports Review

By Treble Yell on October 10, 2017 in 2017, Apathia Records, French Metal, Industrial Metal, Reviews, Industrial Metal, 20 comments

“Drag the light from its perch and smother it in darkness. Crush it, beat it, push it down and hold it under until the thrashing stops and everything is still. Everything is cold. It’s done; the light is dead. All that’s left is to dig the grave, a deep trench for a silent slumber. The grave is yours. Of course, it is. Why linger in a world where the dawn will never spill over the horizon once more? A mouthful of soil is all that remains. Misery, misanthropy and unflinching nihilism, these are the pillars that hold The Atrocity Reports aloft, the latest album from French industrial metal act Wheelfall.” You just buried yourself.

Lonewolf – Raised on Metal Review

By Dr. Wvrm on October 4, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Heavy Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 21 comments

“Lonewolf could desperately use some time off. Raised on Metal culminates a decade-long span that saw seven LP releases, including a peak of increasingly unaffecting albums between 2012-2014. The gap to 2016’s The Heathen Dawn revitalized Lonewolf’s sound, suggesting that even a mild breather can do them some good. Not one for learning from their mistakes (or enjoying life or its many bounties), the Frenchmen offer yet another album for judgment, nary sixteen months later.” Can’t we just admire the French work ethic?

Vital Breath – Angels of Light Review

By Saunders on September 23, 2017 in 2017, Alt-Metal, French Metal, Hard Rock, Mighty Music, Reviews, Rock, Alt-Metal, Hard Rock, 25 comments

“Alternative metal is among the broadest of genre tags in heavy music. A few months ago, UK act Zedi Forder impressed with their solid interpretation of the alt metal style on their self titled debut. Alas, I broached this second LP offering from France’s Vital Breath with both trepidation and cautious optimism when I saw they were also listed under the alternative metal umbrella.” Alternative to what?

The Necromancers – Servants of the Salem Girl Review

By Master of Muppets on August 16, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, French Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Stoner Metal, Stoner Metal, 77 comments

“Hailing Satan from Poitiers, France, they knock politely for 20 seconds before bursting in to commandeer the stereo. We’re listening to Servants of the Salem Girl now, and that’s that. Within moments the air is thick with fuzzy guitars, and unless somebody’s handling the snacks poorly then I believe I’m also getting a whiff of brimstone. In short order, Servants gets and keeps heads moving the good old fashion way: bitchin’ riffage and songs about the Devil.” The Dark Lord of Partying.

Esoctrilihum – Mystic Echo from a Funeral Dimension Review

By Akerblogger on July 30, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, French Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 20 comments

“I, Voidhanger are very good at promoting their bands, very good at creating enticing mythos’, building intrigue, and drawing in a listener with vibrant art-work and concepts. Mystic Echo from a Funeral Dimension has been given this treatment and I, Voidhanger have drawn me in. The actual musical product, though, has to live up to these lofty heights. Is this 2017’s III by Spectral Lore or is this destined to float in the void of the forgotten?” Void loitering.