Sorcier Des Glaces "North" CD

Nearing two decades of existence, Québec's leading purveyors of frigid black metal, Sorcier des Glaces, returns with another slab of cold and primitive black metal, a full length album titled North. Ever since their 1998 debut, Snowland, Sorcier des Glaces has teetered on the brink between primitive second wave worship and cold atmospheric black metal, and North is no different. Despite retaining their signature sound, the band brings a more expansive, more atmospheric approach to their cold, primitive black metal.
Featuring eight tracks over fifty-three minutes, North is a long album, yet the varied approach and nuanced songwriting allow the album to play through without feeling too long winded or tiring. While the band's fast paced blasts and fiery trem riffing blaze strongly ahead, there seems to be a stronger focus on wintry melodies and bombastic backing notes. North sounds almost symphonic at times from the blustery backing melodies, though no keyboards were used during the recording. Sébastien's riffing is top notch, bringing a balance of melodic, cycling trem riffs and miasmic, chaotic bursts of primitive darkness. Luc Gaulin's drum performance is also phenomenal, with a barrage of blasts and double bass runs, yet his controlled cymbal work and rolls are where he truly shows his ability.
North sounds cold and harrowing, constantly dragging your senses through windswept landscapes strewn with snow and frost, yet the moments of atmospheric bombast offer a sense of serenity: a sense that you may be able survive the journey, barely. The atmospheric black metal swiftly moves into fiery moments of blazing second wave worship and into melodic segues and back again without missing a beat. Despite all of the atmospheric wandering and triumphant movements, North remains just as frigid and primeval as anything the band has released.
While the band's back catalog is littered with high quality albums, North sees the band at their most confident. The music sounds colder and more primitive, yet it is, perhaps, the most melodic album of the band's career. Sorcier des Glaces has proved to be one of Québec's strongest and most consistent black metal bands, and that's saying a lot because Québec's scene is legendary. Sorcier des Glaces have outdone themselves again. North is certainly an early contender for black metal album of the year, so make sure to check this one out.

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