J'ai si froid...

Currrently J'ai Si Froid ... is a solo atmospheric black metal project helmed by Brouillard (who has another solo black metal project Brouillard) based in the Pyrenees region in southern France. Originally J'ai Si Froid ... started as a duo formed by Brouillard and guitarist / bassist / vocalist Dunkel, and this was the line-up that recorded the self-titled debut album in 2015. Compared to the project's most recent album that I've heard, "Loin des hommes", the debut is a far more wintry, darkly ambient and depressive work with subdued vocals and an outlook ... or should I really say in-look? ... that is definitely introverted, brooding and shuttered.

After a very cold and blowy acoustic-guitar introduction, the album proper begins with the title track: a more painful and agonised statement of intent probably can't be found anywhere else, with sharp stinging frizzle-noise BM guitars, a sickly synth-wash background and emphatic though sparing percussion. While the music is very blurry and noisy, melodies and riffs can be made out clearly thanks to a good production that enables everything to be heard. A slow pace, equally slow repetition of riffs and melodies, sluggish drumming and drawn-out synthesiser tone pump out as much depression as listeners can tolerate ... and more. It's a long track but somehow despite the monotony and gloomy outlook, the track manages to be quite compelling, perhaps because of its single-minded nature.

Most of the rest of the album follows in a similar style and manner as the title track though they can be even more epic with shrill orchestral synth tones sounding a triumphant air, and vocals from both Brouillard and Dunkel having a very Grand Guignol effect with dramatic cries of pain, torment, horror and malice. Brouillard especially has very creaky witchy vocals that could turn a whole crowd of people insane if she were loud enough. Each succeeding track seems to bring more icy biting shards of BM guitar noise cloud behind which glacial ghost voices rage and shriek in extreme pain across endless expanses of snowy mountains and plateaux. The last track "Hibernacle" is a mostly acoustic melodic affair, almost post-BM / progressive rock in its and emphasis on melody, an all-enveloping atmosphere of deep and enduring sorrow, and (later in the track) a cold darkspace ambience.

Probably those vocals might be over-acting the intense emotion and there's the remote possibility that in the future the singing might be seen as too histrionic and campy ... but enough blizzard guitar noise is passing over them to bury the vocals deep in an icy grave and let them scream forever. The music maintains an even and steady keel with no great surprises, even though there is plenty of potential for experimenting with the textures of the sound, the riffs and melodies, even the atmosphere. Of course, each track could be pruned back for length without the fear of losing its message about the changeability of nature, its seasons and the journey through life that is implied.

For a debut, "J'ai Si Froid ..." is very good though it could have been more original and experimental in its long instrumental parts.