Spring and Summer are the two first releases of the Wildflowers tetralogy, but, as I’ve just come across this project, I’ll write about both EPs at once. Nhor was a British atmospheric black metal band who released a transcendental album in 2013, Within the Darkness between the Starlight. Since then, however, the project seems to have remained focused on the softer side of things, with 2015’s Momenta quintae essentiae and following shorter releases. All of their catalogue displays the same high standards of quality despite the genre change. The newest comers are the first two parts of Wildflowers, … Read more
Tag Archives: classical
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Les chants du hasard – Chant I: Le théâtre
French avant-gardist black metal project Les chants du hasard release their debut, self-titled album on June twenty-third. We’ve already reviewed the amazing and forward-thinking album right here, but, today, we team up with the band and I, Voidhanger Records to bring you a new song in anticipation of the release.
‘Chant I: Le théâtre’ is the album’s first track, and it puts all on the table. You’ve got the whole orchestra with their melancholic and slightly dissonant beauty, the gravelly and pitiless vocals, as of a decadent opera, sing hopeless lyrics in this devoid of any light chant. It … Read more
Wovette – Steeple
Wovette is the pseudonym of Californian musician Brady Miller, who has made a name for himself in many bands, including the infamous Upsilon Acrux on guitars. Steeple is the latest effort from this solo project, and it’s comprised of eighteen short compositions for acoustic piano. Made to be played by whom I do not know, but the superhuman that succeeds will probably have turned its tendons to goo in the process. So much so that I think they could only be played by a pianola (a self-playing piano often seen in the context of American Far West saloons) or, effortlessly, … Read more
Les chants du hasard – Les chants du hasard
Les chants du hasard is a mysterious solitary project from France that’s throwing the traditional metal instruments by the window in favour of a completely orchestral work. The classical instruments are joined by the delirious voice of the so-called Hazard, only soul behind the ambitious project. The synthetic orchestra is convincing enough, except a rare few occasions where their electronic nature pierces through; the main culprits are the percussions. Easily disregarded, this minor detail should not obscure the whole work, because missing such a grandiose piece would be detrimental to you only! The texts are written in French prose and … Read more
So Hideous – Laurestine Orchestral
Laurestine is one of these great albums that leave a mark on you, and that has the power to change your perspective on a whole musical genre. It has been lauded by many, even us, as one of the best albums of 2015, and deservedly so. The intertwining of orchestral and electric instruments in the context of extreme metal, post-black metal if you want to label it, was executed to near perfection, and both sides really complemented each other. On May 6th, So Hideous will release an orchestral version of the same album. I was understandably very excited about … Read more