Canada (specifically Quebec) is where a lot of my favourite black metal is coming from these days. From the raw sound, to the cold and dark atmosphere, the 'distance' the members from these bands appear to take from being 'out in the open'. Like parts of the old Norwegian and French scenes live in this scene. Of all these bands, Gris is my favourite. Their new double album 'À l'âme enflammée, l'äme constellée...' is their finest work yet.
This album really shows how much this band has evolved. When I think back to their first album as Niflheim ('Neurasthénie'), that was a lot rawer and rather rugged. In a way, a blueprint for something amazing later on. With that, 'Il Était une Forêt...' was to follow with incredible results. Cold, dark, atmospheric. In parts like Burzum's 'Filosofem' but kept in a freezing forest and more despairing.
'A l'ame...' is more like a combination of their Miserere Luminis collaboration they did with Sombres Forets and the 'Il Etait...' album. A lot of heavy post rock/metal like moments combined with eerie violin and cello movements that weave with acoustic melodies that are dark and twisted. Add in deep and meandering bass lines, shrilling and cold raw riffs and the ever so painful shrieks of Icare and you have a rather unique mix that hints at beauty even though 90% of this is layered with pain and sorrow.
Production wise, it is much cleaner but that is understandable given the role the violin and cellos play on this album. It feels organic, classical in some ways and listening to the way it all comes together is really interesting to hear. Listen to the way things build up in 'Dim' or 'Seizième prière' for example. Such a great formation of everything coming together and working. I really like bands that evolve like this. Taking your original sound and making it more interesting and complex.
Miserere Luminis made the perfect post black metal that I had always wanted to hear. Gris has taken it even further. The perfect score for despair. The finest example why Canada has some of the best black metal bands going right now..
Ikil
