Chapitre II

Drag a black metal band backwards through the mid-’80s speed metal era and the result is something like Chevalier. Definitely classic and epic yet also oozing danger and weird medieval attitude, the Finns have put out two EPs thus far, of which Chapitre II (presumably to be pronounced “deux” to match the French band name) is the briefer and better produced. The reissue from Gates of Hell Records provides a fat production job and a bonus cover of ‘Fly High’ by Brocas Helm, while the general demo quality of sound still prevails, the bass now positioned more prominently and the lead guitars sounding clearer compared to the debut.

The songwriting has moved on since A Call to Arms, introductions appearing here such as a clean one to ‘The Messenger’, though the ruthless rip of enormous speed hooks has been curbed in favour of more melody. Emma Grönqvist remains a bizarre presence, reverbed out behind the guitars and shrilling and soaring in unsettling dominance, taking Chevalier’s unique sound just a step into the otherworldly. Most startling among the four tracks is ‘The Curse of the Dead Star’, a song that creaks open with broken arpeggios from Burzum’s Det Som Engang Var and the ominous clank of the rhythm instruments; when the riffs drop in, the piece remains possessed by a feverish and magisterial energy that sets it apart from other bands looking to the past for inspiration.

Chapitre II works better due to less polish and tighter chemistry than the majority of bands fiddling with classic sounds. Atmosphere is key to the songs’ success, despite spending the majority of the time at frantic speed and in deranged mood. Head elsewhere if you are looking for feel-good revivalism: Chevalier have maintained their murderous mood through another great short-play.


Originally written for Metalegion #4 - www.metalegion.com