Pensées Nocturne
Nom d’Une Pipe! ()
Wydane przez Les Acteurs de l’Ombre ProductionsRok wydania Kraj FranceNapisał Wouter8
It doesn’t take a whole lot to be called avant-garde in the extreme metal scene these days or in the recent past for that matter. Throw in an odd instrument, a quirky vocal style or non-conventional songstructures, or just dress up in silly theatrical wardrobe - metalheads will be falling over themselves to label said band reinventors of their chosen genre, regardless if it has any root in fact, or reality. Sure, there are genuine avant-garde metal bands out there. The later work of Arcturus is a popular example, or Blut As Nord and Deathspell Omega, Satanochio from Romania. Some call Ulver’s and Dodheimsgard descent into techno/industrial drudgery avant-garde, I call it headache inducing more than anything. Sadly, bands like Hammers Of Misfortune are the exception rather than the rule. Anyway, in whole this French act has more in common with Ordo Draconis in that it is a combination of many interesting musical styles. A collage of sound and very, very little has to do with extreme metal. Like that hardly known Dutch act Pensées Nocturne combine elements of blues, jazz, rock, chamber music (piano, string sections), French popular music and big band with black metal styled riffing and arguably more metal-ish vocals. It’s an odd comparison but in a lot of ways this album reminds me of BioShock (the videogame) and its atmosphere more than anything. This record is quite relaxing to listen to, and hell, even your parents would probably enjoy this with a cup of tea as they watch the birds play outside. So, yeah, "Nom d’Une Pipe" is a niche record obviously with limited appeal to anybody looking for the conventional metal experience. Those of who can enjoy music without preconceived notions or thinking in clearly defined boxes will find a lot to like here. Everybody else can just go and play the new Devourment record and prove how "heavy and br00dle" they are to their imaginary friends. Records like this don’t come as often as I would like. Well done, gentlemen.
www.lesacteursdelombre.net
