This is the second album by Canadian black metal band Vespéral.
La Mort de l’Âme contains 41 minutes of black metal, brought to us in part by members of Conifère. I wasn’t consciously aware of Vespéral before they were announced to play the mighty Fortress Festival next year, although I’ve definitely seen their logo and album art before, somewhere, somehow.I wish I’d paid more attention before now, because this is really good. Regardless, I’m here now, and I’m all in on the seven tasty treats that Vespéral serve up.
Vespéral are regal and majestic, but in a rebellious underdog sort of way. They soar with the grandeur of the underground, a tangible expression of anguish and despair somehow given hope and aspiration though authentic and invigorating black metal.
This is old-school black metal, with a cosmic edge that comes from ancient synths and an infectious energetic grim punk influence. It’s a melange of ingredients taken from the atmospheric, traditional, melodic, and depressive styles, encompassing elements of the Norwegian second wave and their native Québécois scene. Essentially, the music ranges from the atmospheric to the aggressive, from expansive mood-rich worldbuilding to direct blackened attacks of claw and steel. It’s raw, but engagingly so, managing to portray celestial atmosphere and luscious colour, while also being as cold as ice.
La Mort de l’Âme is cut from 90s cloth, but Vespéral have a well-formed character within this, and benefit from an idiosyncratic twang of their own. With textured acoustic guitars, impassioned clean vocals, a subtle post-punk edge that surprises when you notice it, sombre and immersive synth work, melodies that bring out the colour in the music, and more quality blackened riffs than you can shake a fiery stick at, La Mort de l’Âme does a lot with its material.
La Mort de l’Âme is a quality, enjoyable album. It’s underground black metal that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 