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There’s likely at least one metal band for everyone who appreciates music pointed in a different direction. Amesoeurs are one of those bands. Joy Division and Peste Noire fans alike can find something to digest here. Never mind properly pronouncing the name or making sense of French lyrics. Amesoeurs translate enough with their meshed black metal and post-rock. Like raspberry filling inside dark chocolate, the combination just works. On this much anticipated full-length, they slash preconceived notions from genres.
Les Ruches MaladesRecueillement (excerpt)
At times, Amesoeurs don’t sound like metal. Joy Division influence prevails on “Les Ruches Malades” and passersby stop to bob heads side to side. The danceable guitar melodies and Audrey Sylvain’s angelic vocals avoid black-and-white corpsepaint imagery. In “Recueillement,” a cute post-rock intro sets an almost bubbly mood that shrinks behind Neige’s scraggly vocals. Shuddering chills ensue by the slightest bends that stray into unfamiliar areas.
Dark nuances still lurk below the pretty stuff. Amesoeurs deliver black metal tendencies through riffs and blastbeats. In “Trouble,” the same meaty darkness returns as captured in 2006’s Ruines Humaines. The track stands in harsh contrast to the rest of the album, but it’s a sign that Amesoeurs haven’t lost their heavy yet delicate touch. Despite the French quartet’s departure, this touch won’t dissipate soon.
Buy:
eMusic (MP3)
Amazon (MP3)
The End (CD)
Profound Lore (CD)
Profound Lore (CD + shirt)
I’ll say it again, what a great album this is. This band will be missed (or rather the presence of Audrey on vocals, since Neige and Fursy still collaborate), but at least they knocked one out of the park before splitting.
“La Reine Trayeuse” knocks me out every time.
I enjoyed so much this album…great and omnipresent ambiences, Audrey’s beautiful voice, and the harsh contrast between almost poppie guitars and blastbeats; what a journey.
A friend of mine recommended it to me a month ago, how exciting to hear from it here as well!
I had never heard them before, thanks for the post!
Also explore Peste Noir and Alcest.
“I XII V XIX XV V XXIXVIII XIX – IX XIX – IV V IIV” is mislabeled – it’s actually “Trouble” that swings back in the direction of black metal.
Fixed – thanks for the info, Adam. There was some confusion on the artist MySpace regarding the track list, but all indications seem to point towards what you said.
This is one of the best records and bands in recent history. Just got my Ruines Humaines 10″ from Northern Silence…it’s one-sided, has fairly thin cardboard, but sounds great regardless.