This is the third album from French black metallers Griffon.
I enjoyed 2020’s ὸ θεός ὸ βασιλεύς, so knew I wanted to check out De Republica when it appeared. Across 37 minutes Griffon once again demonstrate their mastery of historically themed black metal.
De Republic is an album that hits hard from the start. It’s festooned with bright melody, shining orchestral highlights, and aggressive dark feeling. Presenting as a potent black metal attack with a vicious edge that’s tempered by the keen use of engaging melody and thoughtful songwriting, De Republic has much to reward fans of the style.
The well-written songs are enjoyable and satisfying. They range from epic and intimate to mournful and soaring, taking the listener on a narrative journey through violence, struggle, bloodshed, and change. Griffon texture their music well, not relying on just aggression to carry the day, (although there’s more than enough of that to keep people happy), and instead take the time to make sure that they offer more than just this. The songs benefit from intricate detailing that layers the blast beats and blackened aggression, allowing Griffon to produce well-crafted and involving works all across the six tracks. This approach elevates De Republic above many ostensibly similar acts, marking Griffon as a band to be reckoned with. This collection of songs grows stronger and broader over time too; as you get to know its charms, it just keeps drawing you back with its infectious combination of serrated directness, atmospheric weight, and emotive delivery.
The vocals are impassioned and well-performed. Dark blackened rasps tear out from the sharpened music, while occasional bursts of clean singing ramp up the emotive content further, or grim roars add a level of brutality.
Griffon have produced their strongest album so far. De Republic is an accomplished record that’s well-worth taking the time to get to know.
Very highly recommended. Fans of bands such as Valdrin, Stormkeep, Emperor, and Dissection take note.
Wonderbox Metal 
One thought on “Griffon – De Republica (Review)”