French Metal

DarkTribe – The Modern Age Review

DarkTribe – The Modern Age Review

By Roquentin on July 22, 2015 in 2015, French Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 16 comments

“It’s difficult to shake the feeling that among all of metal’s subgenres, power metal remains the one that refuses to grow up, stuck forever in an adolescent state. Barring a few bands, the power metal scene might as well still be living in the middle of the nineties, when Stratovarius’ Visions had just been released, Nightwish were kind of relevant, and Symphony of Enchanted Lands, by that Italian band that used to be known simply as Rhapsody, lurked around the corner.” Ah, the 90s were the good old days for 80s style power metal.

The Negation – Memento Mori Review

The Negation – Memento Mori Review

By Grymm on July 3, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, French Metal, Kaotoxin Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 5 comments

“I try to be a very fair, objective reviewer. Note the italicized “try” there, because certain bands and styles will have me drooling more than Pavlov’s dog after ringing the goddamn bell. French black metal has that effect on me. Whether it’s the “what’s to the left of left-field?” stylings of Blut Aus Nord, or the angular headfuckery of Deathspell Omega, the French know what’s up when it comes to the black arts.” The French cannot be stopped, except by whatever army happens to be nearby.

Autokrator – Autokrator Review

Autokrator – Autokrator Review

By Kronos on June 15, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Drone, French Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Remember that scene in A New Hope where our rebel heroes get caught in an imperial trash compactor and have to somehow get out before they’re crushed into a Jedi-flavored bullion cube? Autokrator watched that classic escape and thought it would be a great idea to musically explore a similar situation in which R2D2 fails to shut down all of the garbage mashers on the detention level and Han, Leia, Luke, and Chewy are replaced by Stephen O’Malley, Nergal, Chris Barnes, and a the GM Frigidaire 1-18, respectively. It was a stupid, stupid idea.” Nuff said.

Öxxö Xööx – Nämïdäë Review

Öxxö Xööx – Nämïdäë Review

By El Cuervo on May 19, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Blood Music, Doom Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“It doesn’t quite do justice to refer to Öxxö Xööx as a mere band. Reading through their biography documents a total cultural project encompassing not just the music, but art, language and philosophy. It is the veritable definition of the self-satisfaction of an ambitious artist, and a stunning depiction of arrogance.” We at AMG know unchecked arrogance when we see it.

Chabtan – The Kiss of Coaticue Review

Chabtan – The Kiss of Coaticue Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 18, 2015 in 2015, Deathcore, French Metal, Metalcore, Mighty Music, Reviews, Deathcore, Metalcore, 19 comments

“>We’re all familiar with the uncanny valley, yes? When something bears most of the aesthetic qualities of a living being, but a few crucial little details are off and the whole thing gives you the heebie-jeebies? Metal has such a valley, and the ambiguous beast called “modern metal” lives there.” We know you all secretly love deathcore.

Område – Edari Review

Område – Edari Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 14, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, French Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Avante Garde, 25 comments

“There’s just something about Seldon Hunt’s artwork that draws me deep into the full concept and mood of an album. Hunt is somehow able to match auditory art with an observable one. And Område’s Edari is no different. Hunt’s work conveys a sense of beauty, confusion, and uneasiness that perfectly encapsulates a band that compares themselves to influential acts such as Manes and Ulver.” What’s with all the avant-garde metal this year? Must be due to global climate change.

Antagoniste – The Myth of Mankind Review

Antagoniste – The Myth of Mankind Review

By Roquentin on April 4, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Black Metal, French Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Post-metal, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 18 comments

“The French black metal scene has given us some truly great bands and releases through the years, especially of the avant-garde kind. The likes of Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord, Peste Noire, and even Alcest are still pushing out some of the most interesting and innovative metal music. This time around, it’s the French avant-garde black metal one-man project Antagoniste that introduces a début whose mission is to reach and eclipse the sonic standards set by his countrymen.” Trying to out weird the weird is a tough task.

The Order of Apollyon – The Sword and the Dagger Review

The Order of Apollyon – The Sword and the Dagger Review

By Grymm on March 28, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, French Metal, Listenable Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Hey, remember what I said about supergroups last year? In 2008, there was another conglomeration of established musicians based out of France called The Order of Apollyon, and it consisted of B.S.T. (Aosoth), James McIlroy (ex-Cradle of Filth, Chaosanct), Peter Benjamin (ex-Akercocke, Voices) and Dan Wilding (Carcass, Trigger the Bloodshed). Such a who’s who of death and black metal would create a whirlwind of head-twirling mayhem, right?” Super groups…when will they learn?

Decline of the I – Rebellion Review

Decline of the I – Rebellion Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on February 24, 2015 in 2015, Agonia Records, Avante Garde, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Experimental Metal, 4 comments

““What fundamental biological principle gives the largest number the right to think they are preserved from error?” wrote Henri Laborit, in the past. Well, quite. Majority opinion dictates that black metal is unlistenable filth, but to the endarkened it can sound quite wonderful.” Majority rules, though the masses are asses.