Year: 2021
Total Time: 44:30
Label: Season Of Mist
It has been quite a long time (I think from the beginning of the millennium) since I used to listen with pleasure these guys from Bordeaux. I faced them always with respect because they were members of the iconic labels Osmose Productions and Season of Mist, being among the few bands that tried to keep the flame of the French Extreme metal scene alive in the decent first half of the 00s. After an 8-year intermission they returned to Season Of Mist and released “La Morsure Du Christ”.
The album consists of seven tracks plus two interesting synthwave covers of “Les Oceanes Du Vide” and “Sacrifice De Sang”. Actually these covers helped me a lot to see this release from a different view. It is not strictly a concept but the lyrical themes and the whole underground seems to deal with the decline of Christianity to it’s definite fall. The band decided to choose as the album’s cover the Notre Dame in flames (this world monument was partially destroyed by fire in April of 2019). Although there isn’t a straight reference to the Norwegian Black Metal scene and more specific to the cover of “Aske”, the choice of this cover appeals a very intense and strong message and a declaration of their decisive return.
SETH’s music aesthetic owes a lot to CRADLE OF FILTH and more precisely to the unique change of atmospheres and sonic riffing. There is a nice flow during the tracks, with the necessary pauses in between and the lift of the compositions in the proper time. The new vocalist Saint Vincent sings in French language but the most outstanding point is the delivery of the spoken parts that makes the listening session of “La Morsure Du Christ” a very interesting procedure. The listener can realize this by listening to strong and triumphant songs such as “Le Triomphe de Lucifer” and the quite experimental “Les Oceans Du Vide”. A very strong moment is also the qualitative “Hym au Vampire (Acte III) and the gothic influenced “Metal Noir” that slowly becomes a “DARK FUNERAL” masterpiece.
There is no doubt that “La Morsure du Christ” is a very strong return of SETH back in music business. It is full of quality and ability of concurring several interesting ideas. The production is in a high level, giving the chance to the listener to enjoy all instruments accompanied by Saint Vincent’s amazing pronunciation. It is highly recommended to Black Metal fans who desire to feel a fresh and classic at the same time release instead of this new and massive “gaze” trend.
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: SETH – Official page
