La mort du soleil

A burning ship sinks in the middle of a raging sea. The meeting of conflicting elements (fire and water) causes this dramatic situation, beautifully depicted on the newest Sombres Forêts album cover. Symbolism and tragedy are indeed the frame of La Mort du Soleil, an album which marks the renaissance of the Quebec, five years after the Royaume de Glace release.

However, band stylistic transformation jumps to the ears almost immediately. Much richer and complex, music written by Annatar (founder and sole member of the group) for this album draws its inspiration from several registers and transcends the usually sealed borders of black metal. Piano and acoustic guitar are thus introduced alongside the usual noisy guitar distortion and drumming, while a clean production highlights the vast amount of time spent on each song’s creation.

However, general atmosphere is without a doubt this record main strength. It evokes a violin string, which must be stretched to the limit in order to generate a note. This intensity can be perceived at every turn taken by the author, even in the quieter moments. It takes the listener into a dense and demanding universe, where every detail counts. Screamed and torn voice also accentuates the “end of time” impression, a real metaphysical anguish transposed into music.

Comparisons with À l’âme enflammée, l’âme constellée, Gris’ latest record (released the same day and also distributed by Sepulchral Productions) however are inevitable. The two bands share many aesthetic features and seem to be progressing in parallel, with differentiation based only on a few specific elements (voice, etc.). Although the results are excellent, each band should probably try to explore different paths in the future.

La Mort du Soleil shows again the remarkable quality of Quebec’s Ambient/Atmospheric Black Metal scene, probably one of the best in the world. Rich, complex and often beautiful, songs on this album lead the listener into a tragic odyssey, marked by a successful amalgam of beautiful acoustic parts and furious metal passages. Coupled with an upcoming European tour, this release should allow Sombres Forêts to broaden its audience and strengthen its headlining role among Quebec Black Metal bands.

Originally written for Métal Obscur.