Friday, 17 June 2016

Forteresse - Thèmes pour la rébellion (2016) (Album Review)


Tracklist:
1. Aube de 1837 
2. Spectre de la rébellion 
3. Là où nous allons 
4. Par la bouche de mes canons 
5. Le sang des héros 
6. Forêt d'automne 
7. Vespérales 
8. Le dernier voyage

This is the fourth full length album from the Québec based black metal band Forteresse. This release sees the band comprised of Moribond, Matrak, Fiel and Athros return in the bands tenth year active with this stunning album.
After the ambient intro track Aube de 1837 the album kicks fully into gear with the instantly goose bump raising track Spectre de la rebellion, which still stands as my favourite track on the album even after three listens. This track sets the standard of what we can expect for the most part on the rest of the album, long cold howling riffs, powerful blast beats that even Marduk would be envious of, and raw vocals interjected with occasional spoken word verse and some clean choral vocals.

This album walks a strange tightrope between projects like Lascar and Algor and projects like Marduk and Dark Funeral creating a seamless blend of near depressive and atmospheric riffs with harsh blast beats and savage vocals. I think that because this album sits somewhere in the middle of these two styles it is very easy to get lost in it and pick out numerus positive elements.
I highly recommend this album and Forteresse as a band, I further recommend the band’s acclaimed 2007 EP Traditionalisme for a sound that clearly begins to set out the bands path towards this excellent release. Stop reading this and go and listen to the album!   

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