Délétère, veterans of the Québec black metal scene, return with “Songes d’une Nuit Souillée” (Dreams of a Tainted Night). This offering promises a return to their frigid and atmospheric brand of black metal. Let’s delve into this nocturnal soundscape, track by track, and see if “Songes d’une Nuit Souillée” chills listeners to the bone or becomes a repetitive exercise in sonic bleakness.
A Journey Through the Québec Black Metal Wilderness:
- Messe Scandaleuse (Blasphemous Mass) (4:22): The album explodes with a flurry of blast beats, tremolo picking, and shrieking vocals. A cold and dissonant atmosphere is established immediately, transporting the listener to a frozen wasteland. The song throws the listener headfirst into Délétère’s world of unrelenting aggression, a reminder of the genre’s raw power. The lyrics, delivered in French and likely shrouded in blasphemy, set the thematic tone for the album.
- Foutredieu (Goddamnit) (3:48): A touch of melody emerges amidst the chaos. The song features a memorable guitar riff that burrows into the listener’s brain. Vocals remain ferocious, but a hint of despair creeps into the delivery. The lyrics likely explore anti-religious themes, a common thread in black metal. The prominent use of French adds a layer of authenticity to the band’s sonic assault.
- Minuit (Midnight) (4:17): The album delves deeper into its atmospheric core. The tempo slows down, allowing space for chilling ambience to build. Distortion and reverb are used effectively to create a sense of desolation and dread. Vocals take on a more spoken word quality, adding to the track’s unsettling mood. The lyrics, delivered in French, likely explore themes of darkness and the emptiness of existence. This track serves as a brief moment of chilling contemplation before the storm resumes.
- Chants de la Mort (Death Chants) (4:02): The album explodes back into a furious assault. Blistering tempos, chaotic guitar work, and Nag’s unhinged shrieks create a sense of sonic warfare. The song is a masterclass in black metal fury, a testament to Délétère’s commitment to raw aggression. The French lyrics likely delve into the morbid aspects of death, a staple of black metal ideology.
- Lac Noir (Black Lake) (5:12): The album’s epic centerpiece arrives. The song features a slow build-up, eventually erupting into a vortex of tremolo-picked guitars and blast beats. Vocals shift from shrieks to spoken word passages, adding a layer of emotional depth to the relentless onslaught. The lyrics, delivered in French, likely explore themes of isolation and despair, drawing inspiration from the desolate landscapes of Québec. The song fades out with a sense of desolate grandeur, leaving a lasting impression of sonic brutality.
- Rêve Morbide (Morbid Dream) (4:35): The album returns to a more mid-paced approach. The song features a prominent bass line and a chilling atmosphere. Vocals take on a more melancholic quality, adding a layer of emotional depth to the relentless onslaught. The lyrics, likely delivered in French, explore themes of nightmares and the horrors of the subconscious.
- Crépuscule Éternel (Eternal Twilight) (3:58): The album closes with a fitting conclusion. The song features a slow tempo and a mournful atmosphere. Distorted guitars create a sense of desolation, while the vocals echo with despair. The lyrics, delivered in French, likely paint a picture of a world shrouded in eternal darkness. This track leaves the listener with a sense of hopelessness and a lingering chill.
Verdict: 4 out of 5
“Songes d’une Nuit Souillée” is a potent reminder of Délétère’s enduring power. The album delivers a blistering assault of raw black metal fury, staying true to the genre’s core tenets. The songwriting, while adhering to the established formula of blast beats and tremolo picking, offers enough variation to keep the listener engaged. Nag’s vocals are a highlight, perfectly capturing the icy aggression and occasional moments of melancholic contemplation. The production is raw and lo-fi, perfectly complementing the album’s bleak atmosphere. The use of French throughout the album adds a layer of authenticity and distinction.
A minor point to consider: Listeners unfamiliar with black metal’s abrasive sounds and repetitive structures might find “Songes d’une
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