Two weeks ago we brought you the premiere of the title track to Dans La Joie, the debut album by the French band Au Champ Des Morts that’s now less than 10 days away from its official release by Debemur Morti Productions, and today we have another excerpt from the album — “Le Sang, La Mort, La Chute”.
For those who are only now discovering the band, it was founded in 2014 by guitarist/vocalist Stefan Bayle (Anorexia Nervosa) and he is joined on this album by bassist/vocalist Cecile G. and drummer Wilhelm. Dans La Joie was preceded by an impressive debut EP (Le Jour Se Lève) released by Debemur Morti last June.
The adjective that continues coming to mind the more music I hear from this band is the word “spellcasters”. But the spells these necromancers conjure are not peaceful or comforting.
The mystical reverberating notes that begin “Le Sang, La Mort, La Chute” are indeed beautiful, but a pall of gloom and wretched grief quickly descends, as heavy, stalking riffs emerge, with Bayle’s terrifying shrieks acidic enough to etch glass, even when paired with Cecile’s haunting clean voice.
The riffs grow chilling and intense, with the lead guitar casting a spectral shade, and eventually the music takes on the intensity of a raging bonfire in a high wind, as Bayle’s voice rises in intense cries of desolation. And at the end the sounds of cold mysteries flow, like ghost lights through freezing woods.
How then do these sounds of crushing despair and fevered anguish, carried beneath the banner of a song title that heralds blood, death, and the fall, become spellbinding? You will find out. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourselves in the grip of the music’s emotional force.
Dans La Joie will be released on January 27. The album was recorded at Drudenhaus Studio by Benoit Roux (Anorexia Nervosa, Alcest), mixed at Under The Sign Studio by Stefan Bayle, and mastered by Bruno Varea at Upload Studio. Its cover art was created by Dehn Sora.
Pre-order the album here:
https://dmp666.bandcamp.com/album/dans-la-joie
Au Champ Des Morts on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Au-Champ-Des-Morts-1061663760580553/
Debemur Morti:
http://www.debemur-morti.com
http://www.facebook.com/debemurmorti
http://dmp666.bandcamp.com