French Metal Friday: Mystery Blue-Circle of Shame (2016 Version)

Eat Metal Records
2016

Mystery Blue is a French heavy metal band that was formed by guitarist Francis Philippon. Other than a short break in the action between the years 1989 and 1995 this hard & heavy outfit has been fairly active live on the stage and in the studio. Preceded in life by "Mystery Blue", 1986's "Circle of Shame" was the second full-length effort from Mystery Blue and it is has been reissued by Eat Metal Records. Last month I covered Eat Metal Record's reissue of the band's 1984 debut (link). Both CDs were mailed to me by a longtime friend and just like the other reissue, "Circle of Shame" includes additional bonus material. In regards to "Circle of Shame" it is the bonus track "Cries in the Dark". Originally released as a 7" flexi with the title track and an Interview, "Cries in the Dark" was included with the first pressing of "Circle of Shame". The song falls somewhere between late seventies/early eighties AOR and vintage European melodic metal. While it sticks out a bit on this heavy metal album, "Cries in the Dark" does have some appeal and I found it oddly satisfying. Opening with the self-explanatory "Heavy and Loud", Mystery Blue's second album came out two years after their self-debut and it shows the band slowly adapting to the heavy metal sounds of the day. With "Mystery Blue" this French band was part AC/DC and part hard rock/heavy metal. This LP finds Mystery Blue picking up the pace a bit on songs like "I'm in Heaven", "Victim of Guilty", "On the Ground", and "Vicious Game". While none of them are as crunchy as "Heavy and Loud", "Circle of Shame" at least finds these French hard rockers trying to do there own thing. The title cut and "Behind the Blinding Light"* show a ever-evolving band that wasn't afraid to explore other styles. Had Mystery Blue stuck at it, "Circle of Shame" could have been the starting point of something special. By mixing hard rock, heavy metal, AOR, vintage hard rock/heavy metal, and progressive rock (it's a tiny dose but it's there all the same!), Mystery Blue's future could have been dramatically different. They would have needed the support of a proper record label and maybe the help of a good producer, but (post-"Circle of Shame") Mystery Blue just might have been a very cool thing. As it stands now (and I'm addressing this 2016 re-issue more than anything), "Circle of Shame" is an album that should find a home in French hard rock/heavy metal collections. Our everyday readers might want to give this one a listen**, but that is only if you are into the older hard rock and heavy metal scenes.



*"Behind the Blinding Light" falls somewhere between a Dio-lead Rainbow and (seventies-era) Scorpions.

**You can hear this re-issue for yourself by heading here.

French Metal Friday: Nightmare-Dead Sun

AFM Records
2016

Nightmare is a highly-regarded French heavy metal band that was initially active from 1979-1988. Originally a N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired traditional heavy metal act (and a damn good one at that!), Nightmare released two albums during their first run (1984's "Waiting for Twilight" in 1984 and 1985's "Power of the Universe"). Both classics in their own right, "Waiting for Twilight" and "Power of the Universe" turned Nightmare into a household name. After a break in the action, Nightmare returned to the scene in 1999 as a power metal outfit. Since then the group has released a EP, a compilation album, and countless full-length recordings. The simply incredible "Dead Sun" is Nightmare's brand new album and it serves as the two year follow-up to "The Aftermath".  The album introduces two new players in lead vocalist Maggy Luyten (Beyond the Bridge, Frameshift, ex-Spirittales, ex-Virus IV, ex-Beautiful Sin, ex-Ayreon, ex-Over Us Eden, Master of Waha) and drummer Olivier Casula (Sangdragon (live), ex-Thalidomide, ex-Necrosphera, ex-The Seven Gates). Meanwhile Nightmare's two guitarists are Franck Milleliri (ex-Dark Light) and Matthieu Asselberghs (Architekt, Sangdragon, ex-Fire Wizzard). Only bass guitarist Yves Campion (ex-Urgent)  remains from the original line-up, but given the overwhelming sense of chemistry on display here you would never guess that in a million years! Starting off with the nice and crunchy "Infected", Nightmare's "Dead Sun" is hard & heavy power metal that is absolutely stone-cold savage in it's delivery!! Like 2014's "The Aftermath" the guitar solos on "Dead Sun" are stunningly-technical and ferociously-fast. Bassist Yves Campion picked two stellar axe men in Franck Milleliri and Matthieu Asselberghs. Of course Nightmare's bass guitarist is no slouch himself. His playing adds a bold exclamation point to Nightmare's string section and it makes that part of the band all the more better. It was back in 2012 that I first when I discussed this veteran outfit and it sure does seem as if Yves Campion gets slicker and sicker with each new recording! Speaking of things that are slick and sick, Nightmare's new front-lady Maggy Luyten is AWESOME on the mic!! This powerhouse vocalist takes over for the departed Jo Amore and adds a new and improved presence to what was already a intimidating outfit. She also injects some much needed youthful energy into this long-running metal band. While new drummer Olivier Casula does help things along in that regard, Maggy Luyten is ultimately the one that turns back the clock for this older French metal band. Reportedly born in 1978, Nightmare's new addition on the mic might have only been a year old when this French power metal band first came together, but man alive, does she ever sound as if she has been there forever! I know I mentioned it already, but the chemistry on this album is insane!! Collectively these five musicians sound as if they have been playing together for years. When you combine that with great power metal songs and a top-notch production there is nothing to do but play this one as LOUD and PROUD as you can!! With 11 cutting edge numbers in all, "Dead Sun" is one of the best power metal albums of 2016!!! 

French Metal Friday: Gang-Live Is All

Underground Investigation
2015

Active since 1990, Gang is a heavy metal/thrash band that hails from Fismes, Champagne-Ardenne and is currently comprised of Bill (lead vocals), Steve (lead guitars), Biggy (lead guitars), Philty (bass guitar), and Malo (drums). As of this writing this veteran French group has six full-length albums, a EP of covers, and one additional live recording  ("Heavy Metal Road 666 - Live in Fismes 2012") to their name with LP number seven planned for sometime in 2016. This particular live release was recorded during the SOS Festival 2014 in Manchester, Radcliffe, UK. The set list for this live recording featured new material off of Gang's latest full-length release, "Inject the Venom" (which I covered here ) such as "All the Fool Around",  "Chaos for Glory", "Primal Reign", "All of the Damned", and "The King Becomes A God". There is also some older material such as "Believer / Betrayer" and "Skull's Out of Genocide" from 2010's "V" and a obligatory cover track in "Total Eclipse" (Iron Maiden)! The full track list appears below this review, but let's just say that Gang put together a nice assortment of material for this live release! Fans of this French hard & heavy thrash outfit should appreciate "Live Is All" if for no other reason than the fact that it sure seems to be a fair representation of these merchants of metal in the flesh! With a run-time of something like 40 minutes this upcoming release makes you feel as if you were right there in the crowd and a part of all the action! I can't begin to tell you how nice it is to hear a live album that actually sounds as if it came from real live event. There's nothing fancy about this one and it's quite obvious that nothing has been "touched up". With Gang what you see is what you get and just like the great wine that their home country is known for this French band has only improved with age! As it is due to drop in October Gang fans will have to wait just a little while for this release. In the meantime be sure to follow the band's Facebook page and while you're at it why not head over to be Gang's online site to hear sample bits from this disc? I've also included a link below* for another review that I did for this French band. Unless I'm mistaken (which happens a lot for me now that I'm getting that old "Touch Of Grey") it is also the first album that I ever covered from Gang.

"Live Is All" Track List:
 
1. Behind the Gate
2. All the Fool Around
3. Chaos for Glory
4. Believer Betrayer
5. Total Eclipse (Iron Maiden)
6. Primal Reign
7. Skull’s out of Genocide
8. All of the Damned
9. Make Some Noise for the Froggies
10. The King Became A God
11. Back to Asylum


*My first taste of this French band came by way "1993". Titled after the year in which it was released, "1993" was the band's debut album and even though it might not sound like it from my review I have come to enjoy the album extended EP quite a bit for what it is.

French Metal Friday: Hexenjäger-Demo

Self-Release/Independent
2015

"We make noise". That's Hexenjäger's self-description. As for their personal interests? Well, they sure do sound similar to mine! We're talking about beer, rock n' roll, and whiskey for this four-piece band from Saint-Nazaire. In my mind all that's missing is women (and I guess we could replace whiskey with vodka!), but either way this French sludge/doom metal act hits you right where you're sitting! Sent our way courtesy of bass player Flo, Hexenjäger's 2-tracks debut demo is a walk on the wild side with the opening title track alone hitting the 20 minute mark! Hexenjäger, which is reportedly German for "witch hunter", lists it's influences as Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Pentagram, and Hawkwind, but truthfully not one of those bands is as slow and drawn-out as this French quartet is! As my fellow bandcamp devotee Paul Rote points out the clean voice of Charly sound similar to that of Wino even if Hexenjäger's personal take on doom is distinctly their own. Guitarist Charles and drummer Ben round this four-piece out while the eight minute plus "Murk" rounds out this demo. Of the two songs present here, "Murk" is my personal preference for best of show and that has everything to do with how it favors 1970 something or rather slow jam doom! Not that you'll go wrong with either cut friends! Especially if you live and die by the sword of S-L-O-W doom!!! You can actually download a digital copy of this excellent 2-track demo for free by visiting Hexenjäger's bandcamp page whereas physical copies can be acquired by contacting the group at hexenjager.doom@gmail.com. You can also find the band here.

French Metal Friday: Dygitals-Dynamite

Mausoleum Records
2015

First formed in 1984 by vocalist Hervé Traisnel, Dygitals is a French hard rock/heavy metal that was originally active until 1990 or so with their last release during that initial time period appearing in the form of a 5-track demo. That special event took place in 1987 all but assuring this band's well-established link between the past and the present. Now reformed (and as slick as ever!) and with original members David Dugaro (guitar) and Alain Clouet (drums) also in the fold, Dygitals will release this brand new 10-track album on May 5 in North America and on May 21 in Europe. And it's all thanks to the awesome folks over at  Mausoleum Records. This energetic and enthusiastic hard rocking band (which also features bassist Jack Gayffier and guitarist Jean-Marc Lavayssiere in it's current line-up) is most certainly a sight for sore eyes especially as they are no strangers when it comes to my ears! Thanks to the nifty 1985 "French Connection" split that they did with Steel Angel, Vytal and Yuggs and the inclusion of their great song "Stars Of Life" on the 2CD compilation "Revolution Hard-Rock" I was already somewhat familiar with Dygitals. I knew the score when it came these French metal rockers. Or at least I thought I did. Having just recently acquired a great deal more of their music (including 2012's excellent "Avé..."* which I've had a copy of for some time now) I can honestly tell you there was much more to the picture than I first thought possible when it came to this French act and the French metal community in general! After being away from the scene for a total of 19 years (!) these guys proved had tons of magic up their sleeves on the highly-related and highly-recommend "Avé..." so needless to say I was madly anxious for the release of "Dynamite"! When it comes to this lot and this (likely to knock your socks off!) new album let's just say they did not disappoint!

The highly-regarded Hervé Traisnel packs a real wallop on "Dynamite" while his fellow bandmates crank out the kind of high-energy heavy metal that used to rule rock and roll radio way back in the day and has been sorely missed! That's not to say this French band is retro or that their music is old and dated. Far from it! An album like "Dynamite" gives us even more reason to love good old fashioned heavy metal especially seeing as this band likes to emphasis the ROCK part of hard rock! This cult French metal act offers up a list of influences** a mile long the on their official Facebook page and fairly enough their sound has been compared to every one from AC/DC to Accept and even Quiet Riot to Iron Maiden! But, that's just what makes this French heavy metal act so much fun! Dygitals is everything you love about hard rock and traditional heavy metal only better! Occasionally bluesy around the edges, "Dynamite", which is indecently enough the band's fourth full length album and second since the band came back together in 2009, is commercial enough to appear on the radio and yet the band's new album is most definitely a metal platter for those of us who still hunger for the real thing! Produced, engineered and mixed by Didier Chesneau at MII Recording Studio in Forainvillier Dreux in France, "Dynamite" needs to be heard by a much wider audience. Here's hoping then that the disc will do as well here in the U.S. as it will do in the band's home country where they still retain a loyal following. Granted it's not much, but you can hear a bit of the title track by checking out this video:

*Be sure to check out the spot-on review of this album over at Two Guys Metal Reviews. Fellow bloggers and all around cool friends, Two Guys Metal Reviews is one of my favorite sites and they have turned me onto more great music than I can count!

**AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Accept, Judas Priest, UFO, Scorpions, MSG, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Kiss, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Trust, Warning, Ratt, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, Malmsteen, Van Halen, Y&T, Dio, Foreigner, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot, Dokken, Pretty Maids...

French Metal Friday: FurYenS-Barback Attack

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Today's French Metal Friday article isn't so much a review as it is a recommendation. Formed in 2012, with the self-released and self-aware "Barback Attack" serving as the first official release for this Saint-Etienne, Rhone Alpes-based quartet, FurYenS is "influenced by Testament for the power, Annihilator for the madness, Slayer for the aggressiveness and Exodus for the squeaky satire." Need a translation? Well then, how about over-the-top, axe-crazy and immensely insane thrash metal? Not enough? How about we discuss the drum position for a second then. I can't be 100% sure, but it does sound as if FurYenS has a robot sitting behind the set that is all primed and ready for the inevitable uprising against mankind! Yikes! Add to that a vocalist/bassist who may or may not be Tom Araya's long-lost French cousin. Yeah, that makes that Slayer connection all the more real friends!! Actually, it's not just Testament, Annihilator, Exodus and Slayer vying for attention here. Seeing as everyone from Pantera to Lamb Of God gets thrown into the mix (as does German thrash (you know, Destruction, Kreator and Sodom), Slayer's Big Four "brothers" and even the one and only Death!) you ultimately walk away with one album that is pit worthy through and through! "Barback Attack" is uncompromising thrash metal from a young band that should only get better with time. To say that isn't groovy is the understatement of the century! You can find it here: http://furyens.bandcamp.com/ 


Oh, and the band also has some pretty niffty t-shirts to boot!
 http://furyens.spreadshirt.fr/

French Metal Friday: Nightmare-The Aftermath

AFM Records
2014

French metal gods Nightmare are now 35 years into their career. To put that into perspective we're talking about (roughly) the same time period that the N.W.O.B.H.M. first started out! Way before home computers, MTV and bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer these French metalheads were cranking out their own Iron Maiden/Judas Priest-inspired N.W.O.B.H.M and if you want to hear what a real classic heavy metal platter sounds like then let me recommend "Waiting for the Twilight" (Nightmare's 1984 debut album which has shades of not only Priest and Maiden, but early Def Leppard) or for that matter their 1985 follow-up, "Power from the Universe"! Those two early Nightmare LPs seem to float towards the top of my personal playlist more often then not as they are both just all-around good heavy metal recordings! A lot has transpired since that time though so for those looking for a more in-depth bio of the band you would do well to check out my previous article on this fantastic power metal outfit that is linked below. Meanwhile we find ourselves in the here and now and these days the band is fronted by drummer turned lead singer Jo Amore. It's no secret that Jo's voice comes across as very Ronnie James Dio at times and on "The Aftermath" that observation holds as true as ever! Of course his backing bandmates are in fine form as well here on album number nine (the band's first new album in two years with their last LP being the well-received "The Burden of God") and they continue onward and upward with their high-class take on power metal! As usual the riffs are heavy and the leads are epic and for Nightmare (a band which lives up to it's name these days thanks to the ominous nature of their delivery!) they continue to stand tall and proud waving the banner of French metal for all to see. Unfortunately they seem to be somewhat like their fellow countrymen Killers in he fact that no matter how good they are or how consistent their version of heavy metal is they have a hard time catching on with fans here in the states. Naturally it's a lose for the fans more then for the band as people who haven't got into Nightmare simply do not know what they are missing out on! "The Aftermath" is kick-ass menacing power metal that is modern in form without betraying the group's classic heavy metal roots. It's track after track of heavy chugging riffs, sick bass and bow down to the thunder drumming and it has one of those "Take no shit from no one" feelings in regards to it's attitude. For anyone reading this who digs total power metal muscle you couldn't go wrong by trying "The Aftermath" on for size!

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/01/french-metal-friday-nightmare.html

French Metal Friday:Factor Hate - The Watcher

Self-Release/Independent
2013

French (hard and heavy) five-piece Factor Hate features a pair of brothers in Olivier (aka: "Silver") and  Pascal Landais (guitars and drums respectively). The former plays in industrial goth band Xianosys while the latter (dubbed "Sharky") is a former Xianosys member. They also sport a lead singer with the name Thierry "The Watcher" Grumiaux (Heavintage), a bass guitarist nicknamed "Kev" (Kevin Obron) and a second guitarist called "Hubb" (Hubert Treynel). There's all of that and then they (chiefly) carry a torch for all things eighties. Think everyone from Judas Priest to Kiss, Ratt to Accept and Picture to Alice Cooper. Pounded into the shape of a (home-brewed) four-track EP it's all a sporting good time! And to their benefit Factor Hate, who actually formed in 2011 and is also made up of four former members of Mankind (everyone but Thierry "The Watcher" Grumiaux who, might I just add, is one fine looking individual who looks like a cross between Sir Ian Murray McKellen and Christopher Lee!) have recently signed on with Germany's Rock N’ Growl Promotion. That's a nice group to be handling this traditional heavy metal which (rumor has it) has a full-length album in store for sometime later this year. There's nothing sexy about this bunch and (again, to their benefit!) this EP is a tad "scruffy" (kind of like their wicked cool looking and sounding lead vocalist!). But, it still gives off it's own kind of sparkle and is well worth it's weight in gold if only for the title track alone! Find out more at their Facebook page below! 

https://www.facebook.com/factorhate

French Metal Friday: E-Force-The Curse...

Mausoleum Records
2014

Due for release next month, "The Curse...", which is E-Force's follow-up to 2008's "Modified Poison", will mark album number three for the French thrash metal act. First formed in 2001, and originally hailing from Montreal, Quebec, E-Force features within it's line-up ex-Voivod member Eric Forrest (Project: Failing Flesh, ex-Liquid Indian, ex-Lust, ex-Thunder Circus) and, much like Eric's previous band, the boundaries of thrash metal are often stretched well beyond their expected boundaries into interesting forms. Along with guitarist XAV (Jérôme Point) and the returning Krof (drums) Eric, handling bass duties and vocal duties with equal effectiveness, makes this concept album* sound interesting and inventive by allowing the material to take on a life of it's own. With guest appearances from the likes of Glen Drover (Megadeth, King Diamond and Eidolon), Kristian Niemann (Therion) and Vincent Agar (Yotangor) as well as (all-around excellent) performances from his actual band-mates, Eric, who really deserves a band of his own like E-Force, crafts a formidable concept album that is fairly strong as far as technical thrash goes and more than a little captivating thanks in no small part to the intellectual essence that it is empowered with. Is it fair to paint comparisons to Eric's former band though? That might actually be a tougher call to make as their are certainly similarities between E-Force and Voivod up to and including the lyrical nature of "The Curse..." and it's technical delivery. Still, E-Force offers it's own take on the genre and from someone who had previously never heard this talented act before I will say (or even admit honestly to the fact) that if Eric's name wasn't prominently attached to this project then I'm not so sure the Voivod tag would apply as much. Either way though "The Curse..." is a strong album through and through and anytime a band comes along and (creatively) expands upon the notion of what we think we know about technical thrash it should be a moment of celebration. 

  

*Per the promo "The Curse..." is a concept album that is "based on a powerful collection of songs describing the power and temptation of, and obsession with the female race."

www.facebook.com/eforceoffical

French Metal Friday: Existance-Steel Alive

Mausoleum Records
2014 

It's been awhile, but French metal band Existance are finally releasing their long-awaited and highly-anticipated debut album. The last time we checked in with this young act (which incidentally features  vocalist/guitarist Julian Izard who, as the son of H-Bomb's Didier Izard, has heavy metal flowing through his veins!) was w-a-y back in 2012. At that time the band, which was formed back in 2008 and whose sound could just as easily be compared to N.W.O.B.H.M greats of old (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Blitzkrieg, Saxon, Demon, etc) as classic French heavy acts up to and including H-Bomb(!), had recently seen their 2011, self-released and self-titled, demo re-released by High Roller Records and many of us thought that these young French metalheads (which now features the additional line-up of guitarist Antoine Poiret, bass guitarist Thomas Drouin and drummer Alexandre Revillon) would soon enough be making a real name for themselves and tearing apart the scene!!! So, when their full-length debut album didn't materialize right away something just didn't sit right with fans and supporters (of which I'd like to count myself as being both!) alike and we were left scratching our heads as to how and why this band wasn't under the bright lights and on every one's lips and minds! Whatever the reason for the delay though the wait sure as hell was well worth it as the aptly-titled "Steel Alive" (Get it?) simply slays the dragon my friends! This 11-track MONSTER of a METAL release was recorded and mixed at Boss Hog Studios in Ham en Artois, France with Maor Appelbaum (Anvil, Dokken, Halford, Malmsteen, Sepultura) handling the mastering job.Production-wise it's spot on and music-wise? Starting with "Legends Never Die" (a number that slowly works it's way forward before going full-force into power metal, via Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, territory!) the band takes up the challenge of representing a scene that gave us legends like Trust, Nightmare, Vulcain, Warning, ADX and of course H-Bomb! As the album moves forward (and Julian Izard proves he's just as strong of a vocalist as his father!) it's a remarkable accomplishment, but it seems to grows stronger with good numbers like"Black Viper" and "The Siren" giving way to ABSOLUTE crushing riff-rockers like "Dead Or Alive" (which is simply wicked with it's phenomenal lead guitar work!), "Slaughter" and "Burning Angel". That's not to say that opener "Legends Never Die" is anything other then top-of-the-line heavy metal as it does more then just get the job done! It's a solid way to start off a release that (from the start to when the creepy "From Hell" wraps things up in style!) is both a homage to classic heavy metal and a statement that here are still (younger) acts out there that will gladly wave the banner of all things "loud & proud" like this talented four-piece! But, onward we should match and the track "Burning Angel", while (only slightly) a bit slower and more melodic, shows off the band's maturity as songwriters while the title cut is simply top-notch epic metal! Then there is the track "Get Away". With it's nice and heavy back-drop (thanks in no small to the skill-level of bass guitarist Thomas Drouin and drummer Alexandre Revillon!) "Get Away" is old-school, hard & heavy magic, made with love and appreciation from a band that has greatness well-within it's reach! "Prisoner" is more Iron Maiden-inspired power metal (nothing wrong with that folks!) and with the speed metal great "Close to the End" and "From Hell" (a bit Blitzkrieg-like all around) wrapping things up rather nicely "Steel Alive" (again, clever title and one that I just love!) proves to a great debut-album for this French act and a release that should fill the gap in your collection rather nicely if your a fan of all things classic heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M.! Find out more about this talent-laden French lot at their Facebook page below and you can read my review of their (sweet ass) self-titled release right here:http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/03/existance-existance.html

https://www.facebook.com/existanceband

French Metal Friday: Agrion Splendens-Agrion Splendens

Braincrushing Records/A l'ombre de cette vie
2013

Released at the start of March, 2013, which was somewhere close to the range of two years after the group's formation by guitarists Vincent (ex-Jahiliyya) and Sally (ex-Barbarian Koala) - Limoges), "Agrion Splendens" came my way courtesy of fellow French act Ethersens. Soon after their initial formation, with (dual) voclaists Laurent (Wonderbar) and Mathieu (Eryn Non Dae), bassist Damien (ex-Nutcracker) and drummer Colin (drums) serving among the original line-up, the group went through some shake-ups. With Laurent Mora now fronting Ethersens and Yoan (ex-Disclosed Silence) taking over for the departed Colin this Toulouse, France-based band seem to be a point where they have gotten the who's who straightened out (line-up wise) with the actual "what" (as in what these French post-rockers like to lay down jam-wise) having fallen nicely into place as well. The likes of Isis, Cult Of Luna and Neurosis come to mind as "heavy and dirty riffs with powerful bass-lines" (their words) fill in the spaces of what amounts to a twisted tale of post-metal and post-hardcore rock-leanings. Every-bit as dark and foreboding as one could imagine given the key "buzzwords" (post-this and post-that with dirty riffs and clean/harsh vocal foreplay) Agrion Splendens, the band and this self-titled post-apocalyptic sound-scape, are worth a listen if ones tastes often times flow over to the not-so-sunny side of life!
http://agrionsplendens.bandcamp.com/

French Metal Friday: Sultan's Seed

First known as Synthèse, who, having formed in 1981, released a single called "Black Ghetto" in 1984 before releasing one full-length studio album entitled "Prisoner" two years later, the French act Sultan's Seed remain another one of those long-lost, one and done bands. Their sole-release, "Aimin' For Victory", which, like "Prisoner" before it, was released in 1986 and stands as a solid heavy metal/speed metal release, seemingly came and went with little in the way of fanfare which seems a shame. Despite outward appearances (see horrific band photo above!) Sultan's Seed, which carried the same exact line-up over from Synthèse (making one wonder if the there was actually that much of a style-changed or if the moniker change was simply an attempt at having a more Americanized name?), was fronted by the capable Marc Dura and rounded out by skilled guitarist Gerard Jendrzejewski and the none-too-shabby rhythm section of bassist Pierre Blanchet and drummer Philippe Blanchet (brothers?). Musically (at least for Sultan's Seed) an album like "Aimin' For Victory" falls squarely into the heavy meal/(near) speed metal category that was all the favor a few years prior to this album's release although there are moments when the band almost comes across as a (raw) eighties metal version of Van Halen like on "Spread Your Wings" and "Hot Rock'n Roll"! Elsewhere tracks like the title cut showcase a real maturity and the understanding that much can be achieved by perfecting the balance of hard rock rhythms and traditional heavy metal solos. The only downsides to Sultan's Seed lone album would be the under-produced nature of the record and the dreadful inclusion of a number like "Let Me A Chance". Obviously the band was trying their hand at writing a commercial power ballad (something that really took off towards the late eighties/early nineties in all of it's nauseous glory!), but the track crashes and burns shortly after takeoff leaving no survivors! Thankfully it's the only track of it's kind on "Aimin' For Victory" and, with the invention of the fast-forward button on most modern day stereos, it can be easily avoided! After this particular eight-track release the band issued two demos (in 1987 and 1988 respectively) before (seemingly overnight?) disappearing. Current whereabouts remain unknown....   

French Metal Friday: The Betrayer's Judgement-Philosopher

Twin Peak Records
2013

"Godzilla meets Mothra. Hardcore meets Djent. Destruction ensues. The audience is in awe." 

That's pretty bold right? And yet that's what greeted me when I went to check out the latest release from France's own The Betrayer's Judgement. While I wouldn't say if left me in "awe" I will say that when it was all said and done this 6-track EP left me with an overall favorable impressive of this young French metal/hardcore act. Harsh, almost death metal-like (and most assuredly imposing!) lead vocals come from Cyril Szczepaniak while guitarist Jean-Aimé Leclercq handles the "clean" singing. It's a combination that seems to work out well for The Betrayer's Judgement and with "Philosopher" offering plenty of huge metal riffs to go along with the more melodic moments it seems as if it would be hard to argue that this band has anywhere to go but up. This is not the band's first go around as they do have the 12-track "Run Out Of Fuel" from 2011 as well as a cover of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" (also released in 2013). For those new to the band though this one seems like a good place to start as any. On the plus side it's technical enough all around to keep you focused in on where this French act might be going next. With each new emerging moment there's a chance that this whole house of cards is either going to collapse or explode so you do end up waiting with heavy breath to see which direction it will go. And, as the band shifts between the ultra-heavy, riff-happy metallic barrage that is modern metal/hardcore and off-the-cuff, spontaneous melodies they do it decisively well. It does keep you on your toes. On the down side though this EP does remind me entirely too much of modern metalcore. Blame the harsh/clean vocal-interplay and radical shifts if you want, but the difference between metalcore and hardcore/djent doesn't seem all that great (divide-wise) to me. Still, for what it is worth and all that jazz folks, I'd take a release like this any day of the week over the bulk of metalcore releases that inevitably all show up at once (and usually from one particular label in general-no names please)! and threaten to drive me insane with the same set-up of thrash, breakdown, thrash, breakdown, etc!

http://thebetrayersjudgement.bandcamp.com/album/philosopher

French Metal Friday: Eryn Non Dae

Toulouse, France-based Eryn Non Dae was not a band that I was familiar with before receiving a pleasant email from the group's guitarist/backing vocalist Franck Quintin. Still, after listening to the group's latest release (and second album overall) "Meliora", which was released in 2012 on M&O Music, I found myself wanting to know about this ambitious five-piece act. Formed back in 2001, END (as they were known at the time) sounds as if it was seeking out a different path in life from the very beginning. While it appears as if there was music released under the END moniker (with one of their songs, "Beyond The Senses", ending up on the June 2005 Rock Hard sampler) the more "modern" version of this complex and compelling act came about in 2009. As Eryn Non Dae the group released their (well-received) first album "Hydra Lernaia" in 2009 on Metal Blade Records. Reportedly it ended up being nominated "album of the year" several times over and the band itself was nominated as "best newcomer band". As I listen to the almost hour-long, 7-track "Meliora" as I type this it's easy enough to see how a band like this could warrant such compliments. On the one hand "Meliora" is an excellent example of the (overall) appealing nature of extreme metal. Eryn Non Dae, which (besides Franck Quintin) also features vocalist Mathieu Nogues, guitarist Yann Servanin, bassist Mickael André and drummer Julien Rufié, are devilishly effective at unleashing severely aggressive, no-holds-barred, metal that is both bleak and unnerving. Musically this is as heavy as if gets with sludge-dredged guitars mixing it up with hostile bass riffs and the unrelenting sound of drums behind demolished in a manor that leaves little to the imagination as far as the intent of this doom and gloom, bone-pulverizing French metal act. But on the other hand this is the work of a avant-garde band that carefully assembles all of these different textures so that their music will features layers upon layers intertwined within each grand passage! Feedback gives way to adventurous waves of atmospheric post-rock all while the band savagely tears apart technical death metal! It's quite likely the most experiment extreme metal album that I've heard in some time as it can go from flashing images of Gojira brightly in your eyes to inspiring you to dust off those well-loved and fashionably warn-out Pink Floyd LPs that you still keep hidden away in your closet! And all that can be had for the taking in just one song! While it can be a wee bit of a head-rush the first time around "Meliora" is still a inspiring listen from a band that I will be keeping a keen eye out for! The French metal scene has already proven many times over to be just as compelling and intriguing as they come and with bands like this making albums like "Meliora" I can't imagine that will stop anytime soon!

French Metal Friday: The Zombie Dandies

Normandy, France is home base for the two-piece glam punk due known as The Zombie Dandies. Formed in 2011 by guitarist/vocalist K1000 Zombie and drummer/bassist/vocalist Marty Dandy (two old friends/high-school classmates who came up with the idea of "creating a glam punk duo mixing heavy metal with the energy of punk and garage rock") and sporting a DIY outlook on life (which often times makes for the best music if you ask me) the group has one four-track release to their name so far. The band's self-titled EP, which was released in 2012 and opens with the fun "Girls & Whiskey" (two essentials in life right?), is equal parts early Mötley Crüe and the Ramones. Well, that's if the Ramones (no doubt still high from sniffing all that glue!) got all dolled up for Halloween and went out trick or treating for cheap booze and cheaper women all while wearing leftover make-up from a dirty and raw garage rock-inclined Kiss tribute band!

 

As this is a D.I.Y. project the recording process for the band's first EP was obviously done on the cheap. Of course that just adds to the overall charm of "Zombie Dandies" which can be downloaded for free at the link below!  Whether the band will be able to break past their local scene is a question better suited for another time and place. All that matters in the here and now is how fun this EP is and how bands like The Zombie Dandies are keeping the true spirit of garage rock/punk rock alive! If glam punk and/or dirty garage rock is the butter to your toast then march yourself over to this French duo's site and snag a copy of their 4-track EP for your personal collection.


http://zombiedandies.bandcamp.com/

French Metal Friday-The Outburst

I realize it's been ages since my last "French Metal Friday". How long exactly I'm not sure, but it seems like it was a long, long time ago that I last wrote an article. But, here we are now and the reason why I've resurrected the series today is all because my eight-grader, Matt, is taking high school French this year and as we were talking about France and it's modern music scene I thought it was about time that I cover their metal scene. Today's feature is a bit different then usually by the fact that I don't psychically own any material by this female-fronted band. I've only heard this 5-piece act on Youtube and on their home page which features a pop-up radio station. Formed in 2001 in Paris, Île-de-France the band ended up releasing 2, 3-track demos (2002 and 2003) and a 2004 EP called "Party Time". It's kind of interesting that the 6-track EP featured a cover of  "Zombie" by The Cranberries. Anyway, the band was only active until 2010 or so and did release one full-length recording called "Entertainment" in 2008. After the split their co-lead singer Sarah Layssac (who is reportedly also an actress) would go on to play in another French band called Arkan which, odd as it might sound, is a melodic death metal act that employees Middle Eastern elements into it's sound. OK. Anyway, this band featured both female and male vocalist (the group's rhythm guitarist Sky also sang alongside Sarah) with the female vocals being more smooth and mellow while the male parts come off as more harsh in a sort of death metal/ thrash metal style. As crazy as that sounds it did work for the group whose sound, if I was cornered and had to describe it over risk of death, was a combo of heavy power metal, melodic thrash and old-school heavy metal. Often the sound heard from this female-fronted band was heavy (well, duh), but in a "for the first time in it's life heavy rock finds out about thrash metal and gives it a go after a year or two of intense training" where the lead guitarist (Sevh) just "goes for it" while our man Sky provides the same sort of crunchy playing that made Scott Ian so popular. The Outburst also featured bass player Araneae (who now plays guitar in another French band called Blashyrkh) and drummer Kmy who collectively made up a smashing good rhythm section. Even if the band didn't set out to reinvent heavy metal thrash in their own image, they had more then enough going for them as "Entertainment" proved. Reportedly they described their own style as "hedo metal" while the Metal Archives uses the addition term "post-thrash". I'm not so sure about that one, but The Outburst seemed to me to almost be like a female-fronted Tourniquet with equal access to both bands like Anthrax and Metallica and modern rock radio. If anyone has any more info on this band or knows where I can get a copy of their EP and lone album here in the states it would be much appreciated!

http://www.theoutburst.com/index.php?lien=news

French Metal Friday: Gang-1993

Self-Released/Independent
1993

As I can't remember off the top of my head when I did the last "French Metal Friday" I figured that I must be about due or even long-overdue. This week's feature though comes with the back-story that I have no idea  when (or even why) I downloaded this album off of iTunes. There must have been something I liked about it though so, with some free time on my hands (which is a rarity for me it to often seems) and curiosity drawing me towards this album, I settled in to listen to this release all the way through. Before I get to what I discovered there is a little bit of information online that I've found about this French act. Oh, for the record it's not a good idea to just type in words like gang and 1993 for a Google search. It might not have been in those exact terms, but either way Google brought up both porn sites and articles on gang violence. Lovely. Not quite what I had in mind folks. Anyway, the band was formed in 1990 in Fismes, Champagne-Ardenne, and originally went by the title Gush X. The oh so cleverly titled album "1993" was their full-length debut from, you guessed it, 1993! Sure, that album art might make you think of something along the lines of hard rock or even traditional heavy metal (it actually makes me think of Alice Cooper's 1974 "Greatest Hits" LP), but not hardcore punk/thrash! And that's just what "1993" is. This album, as well as it's two follow-ups apparently, were part of the "first era" for Gang. From 1990 to 2000 they played music along those lines (hardcore/thrash) before a line-up change saw them move towards a more traditional metal sound (2000-2010). That's what I manged to pick up from their website which I eventually discovered. Anyway, back to "1993" and it's punk thrash mentality. While it's not a mess of an album (as there are some good ideas through-out this 21 minute release) it's an odd kind of release that opens with the sound of a baby crying on the cut "Baby's Killer". Even though there are 8-tracks on this album it's almost more line an EP as it's only around 21 minutes in length! The longest track on "1993" is the heavy-handed, punk thrasher "Breakin' Off" at three minutes and thirty six seconds while the album's closing track, "Goin' Down", only has a run-time of a minute and forty seconds. So, it should really come as no surprise then when I say that none of these numbers overstays it's welcome. On "1993"  it's my guess (as neither the Metal Archives of Gang's website spells it out completely) that Bill (aka Laurent Bocquet) handles lead vocals which are, shall we say, most definitely of the punk or hardcore variety. Steve (aka Sylvain Cotté) handles guitar and backing vocals on "1993" while the pair of  Philty and Pat handles bass and drums respectively. In a way this album could be considered crossover I suppose as it definitely merges gritty hardcore punk with fairly straight-forward thrash metal. At first the album reminded me of  a way more talented Torn Flesh meeting early C.O.C and Jerry's Kids in a dimly lite basement for a late-night jam, but as I listened to it a second time I did find myself thinking that it goes to great lengths to hammer out a more distinct take on hardcore-infused, 80's thrash-inspired heavy metal then such a weird mix up of acts would suggest. That's not to say that it's a brilliant album or frankly even a good album. It's more along the wave length of "above-average" which means it's not a classic or must own or anything like that, but it's also not a stinky turd of a release either. No, if anything at all it's pretty indicative of what happened when crossover suddenly became all the rage only this 8-track release was released way after the fact. That does make sense when you look at how (in some places during the late 80s to early 90s) some scenes were behind the times. It's likely that Gang was exposed to crossover after it had already started to teeter out so "1993" marked their desire to play this all-or-nothing form of thrash metal punk. Given that potential, particular desire then this could be looked at as a decent start, but I left this album hoping (for their sake) that they improved on their sophomore release.

French Metal Friday:Lust-We'll Never Die

I tossed and turned the idea over and over about whether I wanted to post this one as a Forgotten Gem or include the group in a long, and I do mean l-o-n-g, overdue French Metal Friday posting. You can see which one ultimately won out. With this French act, who actually started off under the odd moniker of Lazy for some reason (as well as Dust), we have another unfortunate example of a "one and done" band. It's of course one thing when you're looking at some crap band that obviously never should have been allowed to make even one album, but when presented with a group that, talent-wise and sound-wise, should have (in a perfect heavy metal world) kept the party going then well, that sucks. As far as the why they were only able to get one album released it looks as if line-up changes threw a monkey wrench into the band's plans making it hard to keep up morale and motivation. No sense in passing judgement as band life is hard and tiring with rewards hard fought. You do what you do and somethings things just happen. It's all a roll of the dice. So yeah, this 1988 album was all she wrote, but when it's as good as this one is whose complaining!. As far as the history goes we will have to take a trip back in time to see the roots of Lust. Picture this: The year is 1981. Four teenagers, 3 of which were all about Kiss while one, the group's bassist (on purpose or not his name was Lemmy) was riding high on all things Motörhead, decided that the time was right for them to form their very own outfit. Early on as Lazy they played hard rock with lead vocalist Fred Williams and lead guitarist Paul Leisy providing a great deal of "punch" that the band would become known for. Even though they started off as a hard rock outfit (as evident by those initial influences) that would all change when the band picked up a copy of Manowar's 2nd release, "Into Glory Ride". Hearing Manowar for the first time was like getting hit a lightning bolt from heaven (or if you will it was a big, flashing neon light that pointed the way!) for Lust and they soon went from playing hard rock to playing straight-up heavy metal. That change proved to be a good call and, armed with a second guitarist by that point, three demos were released before they hit gold with this 9-track LP. By that point things had been smoothed out and the public was looking at an act/album that featured both male and female vocals and was more epic in scope then those earlier influences would suggest. Indeed, by that point in time they had gone from a simple group of teens playing hard rock into a truly powerful metal act that was well versed in the art of crisp guitars with soaring leads. The down side was that those demos they had released and shopped to labels were not exactly representative of this new found epic/power metal style. The tapes had been sent out to 14 different labels by that point and with no offers on the table (remember, those tapes represented the older, less heavy version of Lust) they decided to go it alone. As they went to work on this album, which was self-produced by the band, Lust, thanks to all the various influences that were coming together by this point, was ultimately more grand in nature and yes, HEAVY!. The resulting studio material proved to be killer and the complete album would go on to become a French metal classic! The material that was recorded ended up coming across as a sweet mixture of  Manowar and some of of the metallic vibes of Lust's fellow country men. Trust, Sortilège and Warning are all good reference points (as far as the home-grown influences went) with "We'll Never Die" proving to be a nice mixture of traditional French metal (somewhere along the lines of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest for those who don't know the previously mentioned French acts), speed metal and the epic power metal that was in vogue at the time. In other words it was a true winner. The material on this one album, which was re-released by the label Cult Metal Classics in 2005, is all at once heavy, driving, epic and melodic. My personal copy is from Cult Metal Classics who re-released this album with 6 bonus tracks added on. These extra cuts give you a good overview of how much this group was able to grow since coming together as teenagers back in the early 80s. The bonus material does not have the same magic as the regular album cuts do, but it is always cool to see how bands evolved. Anyway, after the final mixing was done with this lone album both Paul Eisy (rhythm and lead guitar) and drummer Peter Tillman ended up leaving the group. After that it would prove to never be the same band-wise or chemistry-wise and by 1990 they decided to throw in the towel. There was an attempt at a comeback in 1994 though. It lasted around 2 years, but with only two original members involved (vocalist Fred Williams and guitarist Paul Eisy) it never ended up as nothing but a pip dream. Will Lust return again one day? Who knows. While a return/reformation of the band would no doubt be highly celebrated it is at least comforting to know that we have this one killer LP by them to serve as a tribute to what was and what could/should have been.

French Metal Friday: As They Burn-Will, Love, Life

Victory Records
2013

I can already hear the purists out there saying "How can you use a metalcore/deathcore band for a "Metal" feature?". Truth is they'd be technically right. This isn't metal in the strictest sense of the word, but this Paris 5-piece burn things down in a way that a lot of today's modern bands just can't seem to manage. These days even hardcore itself gets a bad rap. It's not like it used to be when bands like Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, Black Flag and C.O.C. ruled the playground making the scene kids get all crazy and violent. Even As We Burn doesn't come across like those great bands of old truthfully. Nope. They are more metalcore or deathcore then straight-up hardcore. Don't be sad though as there's good news to be found. For one thing they manage to avoid any of the pop-punk nonsense that has watered down far too many potentially good hardcore bands. No, this album showcases a hardcore band that discovered the joys of crunchy street metal and imposing death metal. The band's own take on hardcore is heavy and heartless. This is furious and extremely aggressive hardcore meant for stomping on bones and crushing skulls. Formed in 2007 by Kévin (vocals), Fabio and Hoby (guitars), Ronald (bass) and Milton (drums) the band were soon playing to packed crowds on the local hardcore circuit. In 2010 Belgian label Ultimhate Records caught wind of the fire they were starting and issued the group's first EP entitled "A New Area for Our Plagues". This EP ended up on the French music charts and lead to the band signing with Siege of Amida Records in time for their 2011 full-length debut release, "Aeon’s Wart". As they have moved up the hardcore ladder they have played with Despised Icon, Whitechapel and Impeding Doom. While the band still faces an uphill battle (as even the hardcore scene is overly crowed these days with a thousand wannabes for every dozen or so good bands) records like this will come a long way towards getting the band more recognition. If you've never heard of As They Burn before this album is a good place to start as these 5 guys have managed to put all of their skill into this passionate release.

French Metal Friday: Spekt-Cypher

Agonia Records
2013




Maybe it's cheating a little to review an album for a French Metal Friday piece, but it's been one of those weeks so I hope all can be forgiven. This is actually the 3rd release by the experimental black entity known as Spekt and it's an odd thing all around. I mean it's odd even by the standard definition of odd things that I hear regularly. There's no vocals for one thing. Instead of creepy black metal growls you get samples. It's ambient noise/industrial metal and all, but it's almost got this psychedelic air to it. There's feedback and a free-flowing exchange of ideas and textures. Really it just needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. Thankfully Braveworlds is streaming it live at the link below. Spekt remind me of what I like most about metal and that is that things never get dull. that is unless you allow things to get dull for you (as far as metal goes) which would be somewhat sad in my mind. Explore different bands and different genres. Leave yourself open to new ideas and don't be scared off by words like "experimental" or "different" as sometimes those are the best kind of bands/releases. "Cypher" is definitely experimental and different. It's also a nice change of pace and a sign that metal never really grows old.



http://www.bravewords.com/news/197028


For more news on SPEKTR visit: http://agoniarecords.com/

Cypher can be pre-ordered at: http://www.agoniarecords.com/index.php?pos=shop&lang=en