Triumvirat

Quebec black metal masters Ossuaire return with their concise new opus.

Beginning in an ambient manner, the introduction serves its purpose in bringing the atmosphere into a gloomy existence. This soon shifts into a blizzard of icy riffing with a raw ferocity that encompasses blasting drums and maniacally howled vocals into a singular entity of frosty vitriol. Cathartically melancholy and yet clearly full of aggressive passion, this sound has become synonymous with Quebec’s masterful black metal scene and Ossuaire are one of the strongest examples. The production is less accessible than on previous efforts with a harsher emphasis on more static guitars atop distanced drum work while the vocals take a dominant position. This unwelcoming yet familiar style harkens back to the 90s and is effective in presenting their new opus for certain. Having released 2 albums in 2019, this feels like the band has been awaiting the right moment to unleash their sonic storms of truly chilling black metal.

With a focus on the melodic side of things, Ossuaire do not fall into the trap of sounding too “pretty” or “nice”, while clearly writing beautiful music, it retains its more barbaric, untamed elements which is key in not spoiling the black metal sound. The noisy riffs are pulled together by a warmth emanating from the bass lines while the violent drums ensure a chaotic frenzy is prominent in the cacophony of instrumental darkness, while the vocalist utilises those spectral howls that have been consistent to utterly devastating effect.

I think the albums had a slightly better sound overall, but this EP is still a valuable addition of excellent black metal. With a tendency towards the more funereal side of things, this short release manages to handle being harrowing, hard-hitting and hateful in equal measure while holding it all in harmony.

Written for www.nattskog.wordpress.com