Review: MELT – S/T [Album Stream + Live Performance Video]

 

Melt hails from Toulouse, France. The band originally formed as a duo in 2007 when Charlotte and Olivier met. Charlotte at times has used several aliases including Shiro. Olivier adds about Charlotte “there would be no band without her.” They quickly recorded their first demos which they deemed as “a powerful and personal rock, finding its full emotional potential on stage.” Charlotte’s singing comes from a crisis during in which she went crazy and untied herself from the real world. Her lyrics are oniric, a mix of english and imaginary invented language, disconnected from the “real” world, again. Melt sought out additional members and the lineup currently consists of Olivier (guitar), Roméo (drums), Charlotte/Shiro (guitar and vocals) and Julien (Bass). The band’s music is an unexpected mix between metal and cold wave tragic melodies. The band released a self titled EP in 2015 consisting of 4 tracks “Stigmata”, “Cypher”, “Blast” and “Opikanoba”. Those tracks along with 4 additional tracks make up the bands debut album. Melt released their self titled debut album on December 3rd, 2017. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in a small studio in Saint Antonin, France, the studio doesn’t really have a name, and it was the producers debut working with a band other than his own. So it turned out to be both a debut for the band and the producer. The album is self released by the band and you can hear it below or pick up a copy via bandcamp here.

 

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Album Review: THE WALKING DEAD ORCHESTRA – ‘Resurrect’

With a name like The Walking Dead Orchestra, you can’t help but conjure up depictions of a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland where all life is obliterated and the outlook is bleak and demoralising… but fear not, for French Deathmetallers are absolutely annihilating the hoard with their sophomore album ‘Resurrect’! Soon to be released on Fri 13th October via Unique Leader Records (the pioneering label that have already brought you Arkaik – ‘Nemethia’, Decrepit Birth – ‘Diminishing Between Worlds’ and Inanimate Existence -‘Underneath A Melting Sky see review here). ‘Resurrect’ marks a new chapter for the band, having emerged victoriously from the entanglement of wretched spawning bodies, stronger, more determined and aggressive as hell! Pre-orders are live and bundles are available here. For digital click here.

Following in the footsteps of the Architect (the main character of the bands concept world), you are thrown violently into an onslaught of punishing fretwork in ‘Resurrect The Scourge’. With the worldwide epidemic surrounding us, the world we have entered is one of sheer ferocious pounding melody entertained by emotionally charged vocals from lead singer Florian Gatta (also of Rise Of Doom). The vocal dynamics add to intensity of the drama unfolding, from grunts and growls to an exasperated top-end, a familiar appraoch from their deathcore history. The aggression is paramount across the release with a ritualistic feel, almost like the band is willing the dead to join them in their rampage. This is carried upon in ‘Through The Realm Of Chaos’, a frenzy of duality in vocal range and the in-your-face fast tempo which only intensifies the impending Armageddon. It has a pummelling playfulness and incorporates more mid and gruntal vocals, offering a far more brutal old-school dynamic with an ability to combine primal influences to full effect!

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REVIEW: Malkavian’s Second Full Length “Annihilating the Shades” [Lyric Video]

I had a flashback, some deja vu of sorts, when I first saw the name Malkavian come across my screen.  A little synapse in the back of my head lit up, screaming about how familiar that name was.  After some ponderance, my brain finally hit upon the source while listening to the band’s latest release: the Malkavian were a race of vampires in the popular role playing game Vampire: The Masquerade, most notably known for being insane.  Whether or not this is the true source of their name, French thrash metal spiked with technical groove maestros Malkavian certainly play to the chaotic nature that is a key feature of the species.  Originally formed in 2008, Malkavian released their first EP in early 2009.  After hitting the road to make a name for themselves in France’s metal scene, the band worked through 2010, making some tweaks to what would be their finalized lineup around 2011, and eventually got the chance to open for well known deathcore act Suicide Silence come 2012. Their first full length,  “The Worshipping Mass“,  saw its biggest distribution in 2014 under current label Finistrian Dead End.  Ever since, Malkavian has kept busy by working the dual grind of festival and tv appearances, and are ready to drop their 2nd full length on March 31st. 

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