Tableau Mort "Veil of Stigma. Book I: Mark of Delusion" CD

Standard jewel case with a clear tray and 8-page booklet

Drawing on symbolic and thematic influences from Romanian Orthodox Christianity, the album is a spiritual journey exploring humanities fixation with knowledge, sacrifice and perfection, which is often a path to madness. Whilst TABLEAU MORT describe themselves as a Black Metal band, there are many aspects and layers to their sound, delivering modern and powerful music. Drawing inspiration from across the many sub-genres of metal, TABLEAU MORT value the creation of an atmospheric and emotional sound, that is both melodic and melancholic. Vocally, TABLEAU MORT mix Orthodox chanting with frenzied screams to expand on their macabre foundations.

First of all: Look at this band picture. Most of the time I am not a fan of such gimmicky stuff, but this pic really has a very special aesthetic. Tableau Mort have London listed as location, but they are a quite international bunch of guys having their roots in Romania, Poland and Italy. Anyway, what really matters is the music and as you can already assume when looking at the average score here at MA the quality on their debut full length “Veil of Stigma, Book I: Mark of Delusion” is out of question.
Starting with the very first track “Impending Corruption” the listener is bombarded with memorable lead harmonies, partially mournful and tragic, in other places epic and offering hope for the ones having been dragged into the void. Those stunning melodies are at the center of the action, as well as groovy drums, thick riffs, acoustic interludes, and a diverse selection of ambient samples. The guitar lines are one of the highlights, with some of the themes being picked up more than once, used again with subtle adoptions. There is a certain level of melancholy, pitched against the heavy instrumentation and crawling into the listener’s mind.
Due to the sheer darkness that these songs pour into the world the music is not for the faint hearted. Listening to this album will give the consumer a grim and cold feeling and leave him in despair once it has finished. That being said there is a fascination inherent in the music leaving the listener craving for more. While at its core being a pretty straight-forward and traditional piece of black metal it might be the twists and turns that make this album stand out from the pack. These lot really know how to construct a song in a way that purists will be satisfied as well as someone looking for a more complex variation of the well-known formula. Tracks like “Fall of Man” have a great build-up culminating in an ecstatic peak.
While the main focus is always on the riffs and the relentless drum attacks there are a lot of desperate and haunting harmonies dwelling in the background. Eerie themes presented by the lead guitar are always present – sometimes more subtle and in other places as leading elements defining certain parts of the song. How those melodies have been embedded into the crushing rhythm section shows the talent and experience of this band.
The production is pretty modern, which might put some purists off. I personally love the thick, warm and crunchy sound. The vocals are fierce, adding to the overall aggression of “Veil of Stigma, Book I: Mark of Delusion “. If you are a fan of dark, heavy and clever music check this one out.

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