This is the sixth album from French black metallers Darkenhöld.
Following on from 2020’s Arcanes & Sortilèges, Le Fléau du Rocher gives us 48 minutes of new material from Darkenhöld. The band’s medieval black metal hits the spot, conjuring landscapes of blackened texture for the listener to explore.
Darkenhöld’s black metal is melodic and atmospheric, with an epic streak that’s majestic when unleashed. Inspired by the 90s second wave, Darkenhöld make the style their own through their interpretation of what medieval-themed black metal should be.
The music is both passionate and accomplished, bringing together intricate composition with a blackened fire that burns at the heart of the band. Aggressive, but without that being the focus of the music, Le Fléau du Rocher is an album of melodic layers and atmospheric worldbuilding. When the aggression does ramp up, it’s compelling and digs deep into symphonic black metal darkness. When the medieval elements are in ascendance, the songs become multihued, with ancient ornamentation and detailing.
Le Fléau du Rocher‘s sound is raw, but not overly so. It’s a satisfying production that Darkenhöld have gone with, and I like the natural sound of the drums in particular. Also, you can actually hear the contribution that the bass makes. The final package Darkenhöld have put together is advantageous to the songs, allowing them to benefit from underground appeal, as well as an infernal might that won’t be constrained by recording alone.
I enjoyed Le Fléau du Rocher. Darkenhöld continue to plug away at their art, largely unsung compared to some, yet consistently release quality black metal that should appeal to anyone in the market for the melodic, symphonic, second wave, atmospheric, or folk black metal styles. If this is your first encounter with Darkenhöld, go check out Le Fléau du Rocher. If it isn’t, then go do the same, as it’s a very easy record to listen to if you like the sort of material that Darkenhöld create.
Wonderbox Metal 