Year: 2024
Total Time: 36:54
Label: Les Acteurs de l’Ombre
More than three years have passed since the release of “Ὸ Θεὀς Ὸ Βασιλεὐς” and the French Black Metallers have come back to the fore with their third release. “De Republica” is moving away from the medieval element, focusing on a more historical context which refers to the Republic over the centuries. Indeed, their lyricism combined with the use of the French language gives a special tone and an interesting semiology.
From the opening song “L’homme du Tarn” GRIFFON make sure to give us their mark moving around, in melodic Black Metal fields, with some acoustic interludes and narrations. Referring to Jean Jaurès, a socialist MP from Tarn (he was the only French MP who opposed the escalation of war in Europe before the First World War so he was assassinated in 1914 making him now a figure of socialism, a hero of peace), there is a pervasive sense of melancholy enhanced by the use of violins and a soft atmospheric blackness in the second part of the piece that fascinated me concluding “Et que maudite soit la guerre!”.
The following song is “Ides Of March” and you all understand what event it is referring to, hoping to save the Roman republic, a faction of senators organized the assassination of Julius Caesar. His assassination sparked the civil war that brought an end to democracy and the beginning of fifteen centuries of monarchy. Another long one song, full of blastbeats, recitations in Latin and Greek which softens at the end, leaving a bittersweet aftertaste. Epic Black Metal elements similar to the sound of BAL SAGOTH will be heard in “À l’insurrection” with endless blasts, aggressive vocals, tremolo guitars and a recitation of Victor Hugo ideally closes the composition. In 1830, following an anti-democratic coup by King Charles X and his government, France entered three days of revolution on July 27, 28 and 29, known as the “Three Glorious Days”. This marked the end of the legitimizing monarchy.
“Semaine Sanglante” is the shorter song of the album and follows the same patterns as the previous ones with cuts, chants, supersonic speeds and melancholy. It is referred to 1871, when the defeat at Sedan gave the seizure of power at the conservatives and royalists, at a time when people of Paris rose up and proclaimed the Commune, a social democracy. This rebellion was bloodily put down during ‘Bloody Week’. The same will happen in the following songs focusing on the preservation of Democracy in the modern era, either with its confrontation with the Church, or with the social uprising of the “Yellow Vests”.
The production and mixing of the recording are really good and detailed, especially with the use of headphones, many details are perceived by the listener. The artwork edited by the well-known Adam Burke fully captures the message that GRIFFON wants to convey which. According to their words: “On the one hand, the album is an ode to Democracy, which defends the rule of law, equality and freedom, and on the other, a work that sanctifies the Revolution as a popular expression of the struggle against despotism and the conquest of freedom”.
“De Republica” is a melodic and historical Black Metal album with which I had a good time. It made me read, concern and most of all, think and wish it had maybe one or two more songs in it!
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: GRIFFON – Facebook Page
