Black Metal Atmosphérique Français
Black metal, more black metal, always black metal... I've definitely had my fill of it lately. Anyway, it took me quite a while to get around to this first release from Terragon, the "one-man-band" of Manylaeturius, who is also the guitarist for Ancetres and Spectrums Of Oblivion (see other reviews on Thrashocore). Like these two previously mentioned groups, Terragon's style is firmly rooted in black metal. However, with "Chapter I," Manylaeturius offers us a more personal and original vision of black metal, very progressive and atmospheric, and much more interesting, in my opinion, than the other bands he plays in.
To describe Terragon's music a little, I would say that it has a hint of Summoning and ...and Oceans (period "The Dynamic Gallery Of Thoughts") in terms of atmosphere and epic ambiance, and of everything you know in black metal for the rest, knowing that the more nervous passages always retain a very symphonic and grandiose spirit. It's not easy to get into this debut album due to its density and intensity, with tracks being quite long (up to 18'29" for "L'Ame Noire"). The songs oscillate between atmospheric passages and more aggressive sections, always maintaining the same compositional spirit where you feel a real unity and coherence in the band's musical expression. Personally, I find the tracks still a little lacking in impact, and they can be a bit tedious at times. It's also a shame that the keyboard and ambient sounds are so "cheap," but that's to be expected for a self-produced album. Ultimately, the most important thing is there, as Terragon manages to create an atmosphere from the very first minutes of listening.
The sound is quite good for a first demo, and the 8-page black and white booklet looks very professional. Regarding the sound, only the mixing lacks precision, with the keyboard really overpowering everything else; however, the programmed drums work wonders (you'd swear they were real drums), and the sound of the The guitar work is very enjoyable. In fact, only the artwork will remind you that "Chapter I" is a demo, which is a real shame considering the resources Manylaeturius has invested. As for the lyrics, there's plenty of them, the result of considerable work by the man himself, for a result I'll let you judge for yourselves (you can find them on the band's website, along with the album concept).
"Chapter I" is a very promising first taste, even if the structures still lack a bit of maturity. Manylaeturius offers us his personal vision of black metal in a rather original and audacious form, and that alone deserves respect. Here's hoping the rest of the album is even better...
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=3YuBdStrGDE&t=2058s
