Don Juan on air – #2. French Black Metal 1.0
#2. French Black Metal 1.0
01. Blut Aus Nord – “Acceptance (Aske)” from ‘Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the Stars’ – Candlelight Records/2009
02. Blut Aus Nord – “Disciple’s Libration (Lost in the Nine Worlds)” from ‘Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the Stars’ – Candlelight Records/2009
03. Deathspell Omega – “Sola Fide I” from ‘Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice’ – Norma Evangelium Diaboli/2004
04. Nehëmah – “Light of a Dead Star” from ‘Light of a Dead Star’ – Oaken Shield/2002
05. Malleus Maleficarum – ” La Cité des hurlements muets” from ‘Des bibles, des hymnes, des icônes…’ – Oaken Shield/2004
06. Christicide – “Eyes Pierced with Truth” from ‘Christicide’ – Those Opposed Records/2010 (reissue)
07. Asmodée – “Hurlements” from ‘Symptômes de ruine’ – Sacral Productions/2002
08- Maïeutiste – “The Fall” from ‘Maïeutiste’ – Les Acteurs de l’Ombre/2015
09. Peste Noire – “Spleen” from “La Sanie des siècles – Panégyrique de la dégénérescence” – De Profundis Éditions/2006
10. Sale Freux – “Cap Trauma” from ‘Adieu, vat!’ – France d’Oïl Productions/2016
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Black Metal – The Cult Never Dies Vol.1
Black Metal: The Cult never Dies Vol. 1 by Dayal Patterson, featuring interviews of Satyricon, Manes, Kampfar, Solefald, Wardruna/Jotunspur/Gorgoroth, Xantotol, Arkona, Mastiphal, Evilfeast, Mgła/Kriegsmaschine, Strid, Silencer, Bethlehem, Forgotten Tomb and Total Negation and a chapter on the art of Theodor Kittelsen.
This volume examines three facets of the genre in detail, returning to the subject of Norwegian Black Metal, discussing Polish Black Metal and telling the story of the subgenre of Depressive/Suicidal Black Metal.
There is some extracts of the first part dedicated to the norwegian band Satyricon, Satyr, and his label Moonfog.
According to the evolution of Satyricon’s music:
Satyr: “I’ve heard so many bands throughout their career proudly claim that they will “never change”. No, you will never change because you’ve found a formula that works for you and you don’t want to risk not selling records (…)”.
According to Storm’s ‘Nordavind’ (1995), side project of both Satyr and Fenrix (Darkthrone, ex-Isengar, ex-Dødheimsgard):
“Through certainly not the strongest record on the label’s (Moonfog) catalogue (Fenriz once told me that he wouldn’t touch it “with a 666 foot pole”), it is nontheless an insteresting document of the era”.
I let you discover more: http://cultneverdies.myshopify.com/
Don Juan on air – #01. 2016 – Black Metal
#01. 2016 – Black Metal
(Intro)*
01. Inquisition (US) – “From Chaos They Came” from ‘Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith’ – Season of Mist
02. Behexen (FI) – “Umbra Luciferi” from ‘The Poisonous Path’ – Debemur Morti Productions
03. Urfaust (NL) – “Meditatum II” from ‘Empty Space Meditation’ – Ván Records
04. Ustalost (US) – “V” from ‘The Spoor of Vipers’ – Sibir Records
05. Pénitence Onirique (FR) – “L’âme sur les Pavés” from ‘V.I.T.R.I.O.L’ – Emanations (Les Acteurs de l’Ombre)
06. Cantique Lépreux (CA) – “La Meute” from ‘Cendres Célestes’ – Eisenwald Tonschmiede
07. Forteresse (CA) – “Spectre de la rébellion” from ‘Thèmes pour la rébellion’ – Sepulchral Productions
08. Antaeus (FR) – “Symmetry of Strangers” from ‘Condemnation’ – Norma Evangelium Diaboli
09. Deathspell Omega (FR) – “Internecine Iatrogenesis” from ‘The Synarchy of Molten Bones’ – Norma Evangelium Diaboli
*Intro: Antaeus – “Devotee” from ‘Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan’ – Baphomet Records (2000)
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Support bands, buy cds/lps.
Top Albums of 2016.
10. Throane – ‘Derrière-nous, la lumière’ (Debemur Morti Productions).
We used to know Dehn Sora for his ritualistic ambient project Treha Sektori and for his works as a graphic designer (Blut aus Nord, Manes, etc.). We’ll now remember him for this new entity named Throane; the union of the more thrilling facet of Treha Sektori and the raw and obscure side of Black Metal. A short but very promising debut album.
9. Sarcoptes – ‘Songs and Dances of Death’ (Cimmerian Shade Recordings)
One of the most surprising albums released this year. Imagine a mix between Emperor from the end of the 90s, full of baroque and dominant keyboards, and the thrash riffing of bands such as Slayer (“The Fall of Constantinople” and its ‘Hell Awaited’-ed introduction) or Pestilence (‘Spheres’ era). Powerful and refreshing.
8. Pénitence Onirique – ‘V.I.T.R.I.O.L’ (Emanations – LADLO)
Even the crew of Les Acteurs de l’Ombre, who decided to release this album through its sub-label Emanations (dedicated to less experimented bands), certainly not expected such a positive response. Critically acclaimed, ‘V.I.T.R.I.O.L’ is a mysterious, ethereal and effective piece of Black Metal. Another Emperor-like, but without keyboards.
7. Antaeus – ‘Condemnation’ (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
The best soups are made in the oldest pans. ‘Condemnation’ is this kind of meal; the one that reminds you good old times. When a lot of bands are trying to be more progressive or sophisticated than they’ll ever be, Antaeus makes his own way. Fast, raw and ruthless; after years of studio inactivity, a return in the vein of ‘De Principii Evangelikum’ (2002).
6. Forteresse – ‘Thèmes pour la Rébellion’ (Sepulchral Productions)
At least one Canadian Black Metal band had to be present in this Top. And Forteresse from Quebec won the spot. The fourth album of the quartet, ‘Thèmes pour la rébellion’, is a masterpiece of epic and heavy Black Metal, fueled of hanger and independence desires. Please, don’t let them take their autonomy too easily…
5. Grave Miasma – ‘Endless Pilgrimage’ (Sepulchral Voice Records)
Grave Miasma continues it faultless performance. Three years after their promising first LP, the London-based quartet are back with a 33 minutes EP which could well act as second full-length as this ‘Endless Pilgrimage’ is a solid work. A heavy and putrid Death Metal tinted of Black Metal, which gets better with time and grows inside you like an inexorable plague.
4. Furia – ‘Księżyc milczy luty’ (Pagan Records)
Furia is like a UFO in the so prosperous Polish Black Metal scene; a spaceship that wanders from planet to planet and style to style, borrowing from Jazz and folkloric music in order to feed their Black Metal and makes it so difficult to label, different, and so highly appreciable too. A must to listen; very enjoyable.
3. Ulcerate – ‘Shrines of Paralysis’ (Relapse Records)
Thanks to a more legible and less stifling production than their past album ‘Vermis’ (2013), Ulcerate offers us in 2016 what can be considered as the best album of their discography. Technique and power are at the service of the atmosphere in order to create a climate as hostile as charming and bewitching. First-class Death Metal.
2. Ustalost – ‘The Spoor of Vipers’ (Sibir Records)
There are albums that, if they had been released in the late 80s or early 90s, would undoubtedly become cult items. Like a ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas’ or an ‘A Blaze in the Northern Sky’; frequently copied but never equalled. This is the case of the first Ustalost full-length, only released in a limited tape edition. Cold and glorious: the quintessence of Black Metal.
1. Sale Freux – ‘Adieu, vat!’ (France d’Oïl Productions)
As bitter than a draught of beer and melancolic like Verlaine’s poem, ‘Adieu, vat!’ is much more than only music. It’s a message in a bottle, thrown in the sea from the Brittany shores by Dunkel, the mastermind behind Sale Freux. Contemplative and less raw than his past albums, a LP that seems to be the first part of a modern times poet’s testament. To be continued…
Honorable mentions and others rightly acclaimed works:
Alcest – ‘Kodama’ (Prophecy Productions)
Altarage – ‘NIHL’ (Doomentia Records)
Arkona – ‘Lunaris’ (Debemur Morti productions)
Behexen – ‘The Poisonous Path’ (Debemur Morti Productions)
Bethlehem -‘Bethlehem’ (Prophecy Productions)
Cantique Lépreux – ‘Cendres Célestes’ (Eisenwald Tonschmiede)
Caverne – ‘Sentiers d’avant’ (Résilience)
Deathspell Omega – ‘The Synarchy of Molten Bones’ (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
Esben and the Witch – ‘Older Terrors’ (Season of Mist)
Fluisteraars – ‘Gelderland’ (Eisenwald Tonschmiede)
Inquisition – ‘Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith’ (Season of Mist)
Martröð – ‘Transmutation of Wounds’ (Terratur Possessions)
Oranssi Pazuzu – ‘Värähtelijä’ (Svart Records)
Saor – ‘Guardians’ (Northern Silence Productions)
Urfaust – ‘Empty Space Meditation’ (Ván Records)
Sale Freux – Vindilis (new album teaser)
Dunkel (all instruments), speaking about “Adieu, vat!” (2016) and “Vindilis” (scheduled for early 2017) in February 2016:
“I would simply say that it (Ed. note: “Adieu, vat!”) will act as an small appetizer of another upcoming album, in development since one year and a half. The maritime theme is only sketched on “Adieu, vat! ” to be deeply approached on the next album (Ed. note: “Vindilis”). It is to this end that I have recently engaged, from October to December, in a sailor’s training in Saint-Malo, in order to know a little more about what I am talking about.”
You can read the whole interview (in French) on Hornsup.fr.
France du Nord (label and shop).
Don Juan in hell.
The night Don Juan came to pay his fees
To Charon, by the caverned water’s shore,
A Beggar, proud-eyed as Antisthenes,
Stretched out his knotted fingers on the oar.
Mournful, with drooping breasts and robes unsewn
The shapes of women swayed in ebon skies,
Trailing behind him with a restless moan
Like cattle herded for a sacrifice.
Here, grinning for his wage, stood Sganarelle,
And here Don Luis pointed, bent and dim,
To show the dead who lined the holes of Hell,
This was that impious son who mocked at him.
The hollow-eyed, the chaste Elvira came,
Trembling and veiled, to view her traitor spouse.
Was it one last bright smile she thought to claim,
Such as made sweet the morning of his vows?
A great stone man rose like a tower on board,
Stood at the helm and cleft the flood profound:
But the calm hero, leaning on his sword,
Gazed back, and would not offer one look round.
Charles Baudelaire, “Don Juan in hell”
“Don Juan aux enfers”, translated by James Elroy Flecker (1884 – 1915), published 1907. Source: The Flowers of Evil, ed. Marthiel and Jackson Mathews, New Directions edition, 1989.
Picture: Charles Baudelaire (Georges Rochegrosse & Eugène Decisy – 1917)
Don Juan in hell 