Music: Black Metal
Country: France
Web site: www.malleus-maleficarum.org
Cool Songs: Agonie, Espoir Perdu, Souffre En Silence
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM is a power trio hailing from France, a country that is stacked when it comes to black metal. The groups 2004 release Des bibles, des hymnes, des icônes… is an offering of raw, true black metal. The lyrics come entirely in French, so deciphering what the band is saying is impossible for non-English speakers like this reviewer, but based on the style of the music, most likely MALLEUS is giving a shout out to the horned one down below.
Des bibles hits hard and fast, and features an in-your-face production. Each instrument seems turned to the maximum setting. Traditionally, black metal bands place the guitar in the background and the drums in the front. Here, all the instruments are up front, although certain cymbals over ride everything else.
The cymbal sound is the most negative aspect of this recording, one cymbal piece in particular. This cymbal emits a shrill, digital sound when tap by the drummers stick. The cymbal flaw states nothing about Seigneur Nergal drumming capabilities, though. Nergal destroys the skins, pounding with much impetus and velocity, keeping the musics aggressive tone fluid.
Vocalist, Tamas, who also handles guitar duties, is equally important in the band obtaining a sick sound. He belts out the usually throaty black metal shrieks, which is nothing out of the norm. However, in the appropriate passages Tamas combines his voice with bassist Ahrimans howls and tortured cries to create a choir of the damned.
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM is straightforward in their approach, but takes the occasional melodic break. Interlude consists of nothing more than a folksy acoustic guitar. The last track Espoir Perdu features an acoustic guitar intro. The soft guitar tones take a harsh turn into the grim black metal that typifies the album before ending on a melodious note with a dark, plugged-in acoustic guitar jam.
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM chose a most fitting band name. The Malleus Maleficarum became the official guidebook for witch finders in the sixteen century. Considering MALLEUS MALEFICARUMs country burned many a witch and the group crafts metal of the blackest kind, they found the perfect moniker. Des bibles, des hymnes, des icônes… is true black metal in the sense of speed, rawness, little melody and the amount of darkness the band produces. Is it at the level of fellow, malevolently aligned French bands like DEATHSPELL OMEGA, CULT OF BAAL, or ANTEUS? I would say no, and place them somewhere near the upper middle of the pack. Is it an album worthy of purchasing for fans of true black metal? You bet your soul it is!
note: 6/10
Tracklist
1. Des Bibles, Des Hymnes, Des Icônes…
2. La Chambre Des Souillures
3. Neurasthenia
4. Souffre En Silence
5. Ignorance Enivrante
6. Interlude
7. Agonie
8. La Cité Des Hurlements Muets
9. Ballet Morturaire
10. Espoir Perdu
Total playing time 46:39
Line-up
Tamas – Guitars, vocals
Ahriman – Bass, vocals
Seigneur Nergal – Drums
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