The 2017 Hellfest Open Air Festival will be taking place from June 16th-18th in Clisson, France next year, and the final lineup has now been confirmed. Continue reading
Tag Archives: France
Mercury Music Group Releases Their New You Don’t Say No To Metallica Commercial
The promotion cycle for Metallica‘s new album was absolutely brilliant. Whether it was on television, radio, or the internet, Metallica has been in everyone’s faces for the past few months, and Mercury Music Group just uploaded their amazing new commercial from France. Continue reading
Video: Gojira Shares “Stranded” Live Clip From Hellfest 2016
Gojira will be kicking off their next U.S. headlining tour in nine days, and just to get you more excited for the upcoming run of dates, they’ve shared an amazing clip from their performance at this year’s Hellfest in France.Continue reading
Novelists – Souvenirs
Most modern metalcore music comes from the US, which is not surprising as the genre was formed in the States. The UK has also recently upped its metalcore offerings, with the likes of While She Sleeps, Bury Tomorrow and Architects dominating the airwaves. One country that is not particularly well-known for its metalcore scene is France, but Paris-based quintet Novelists are hoping to change this with their debut album Souvenirs (Arising Empires). They have been teasing their ever-growing fanbase with a variety of singles since 2013, but their newest release should satisfy both pre-existing fans and newcomers alike.
In a genre which is infamous for its unoriginality bands need to ensure that the first track resonates with both pre-existing fans and newcomers, and that is exactly what Novelists have achieved with ‘Inanimate’. The haunting piano melody fused with the almost djent-like riffs creates a distinctive yet engaging sound which certainly makes an impact. Although the song itself is only two minutes long it is hard to ignore the powerful technical guitar work, never mind Matt Gelsomino’s harrowing vocals.
The progressive nature of their songs definitely takes their sound to the next level. The ever-changing tempo of each song is anything but unorganised; instead it adds to the excitement as you are unsure of exactly where each track is heading. In a genre full of predictable riff-chorus-riff, it is genuinely exhilarating to hear such a fresh take on metal music as a whole.
Despite the heavy nature of the majority of Souvenirs, Matt and co. are able to show their softer side in the ambient-sounding track ‘5:12AM’. Versatility is a handy trait to possess in the music industry, and it is clear that Novelists are not afraid to try something different.
Novelists have managed to take the best parts from genres across the metal spectrum and fuse them together to create their own signature style: heavy breakdowns, eerie melodies, hardcore-esque vocals, synth beats and technical guitar riffs.
7.0/10
JULIA CONOPO
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Benighted – Brutalive The Sick
While musical communities seem to vehemently deny that image has any impact on how they feel about certain bands, it’s almost impossible not judge which new album or a band is worth the time based on this very thing. Which brings us to Benighted. Their artwork and logo have hardly been an attempt to distinguish themselves from the hundreds of mediocre brutal death metal bands that churn out song after song, finishing with an album that better serves more as a spot the difference exercise than an enjoyably diverse entity. However, while their image is busy with clichés, their music stands as an entirely different beast.
That’s not to say they are smashing through the bounds of everything that makes death/grind what it is, but where Benighted shine is taking numerous well established elements and ramming them together into small timespans. Marking their 15th anniversary of this speed-induced musical decathlon race, the band has returned with their latest offering, live album Brutalive the Sick (Seasons of Mist) taken from their performance at the French Sylak Open Air in summer 2014.
Love or hate live albums, it is clear a lot of work has been put into this. Despite numerous line-up changes over the years on the bass, and most recently drums, this band are evidently boasting solid form as their tight performance shows little difference from recorded work. Particularly impressive is Julien Truchan’s vocals, backed up by Pierre Amoux. From gutturals to pig squeals, each style is executed with exceptional timing and ease, tying perfectly into frantic music racing along behind.
With the exception of the album title and the cries from the crowd between songs, you’d be forgiven for missing the fact this is recorded live. While it could be argued that Brutalive the Sick does not capture the true experience with their polished sound, there is a noticeable change in the production, an energy that is lacking on the studio works. While I can’t say it is different enough to justify existing fans rushing out and buying a copy, it does show that even after 15 years of releases Benighted are still working hard to earn their place in any extreme metal fans collection.
9.0/10
CAITLIN SMITH
The Order Of Apollyon – The Sword And The Dagger
With their homeland having become a noticeable entity for black metal at its most experimental, nauseating and evil best, it is no surprise that black/death metallers The Order Of Apollyon hail from the land of France. In fact, The Order… were actually instigated and led by a prime member of influential Asosoth, namely B.S.T, as their debut saw an impressive who’s who of extreme metal, but sadly with fine if uninspiring results. Five years on sees the follow up, The Sword And The Dagger (Listenable), an altered lineup, and a greater sound of purpose.
Surprisingly coming from the scene that they originate, TOOA’s sound is fairly accessible considering it is drawing from both death and black metal; at times simultaneously. Much of this is down to its precise, contemporary sounding production which avoids the sludgey, dissonant feel; sharing more with some of their ‘cleaner’ counterparts. Much can also be pointed towards its more tuneful segments which take their cues from melodic death metal, albeit from the heavier spectrum such as the likes of Hate.
Not that is easy listening by any stretch, as it veers from guttural death metal and piercing black metal with a subtle but definite experimental nature, such as on ‘Al’ankabout’ with its slight Middle Eastern vibes and a grinding, doom like crawling passage. This album has several sides to it, but displays it all with impressive fluidity, and, whilst it may have easy to spot reference points at times, it all comes off in a worthy and formidable manner.
With its extreme metal ranging from several different roots and its bouts of experimentation – combined with its comparatively polished production – The Sword And The Dagger proves not only a vast improvement over its predecessor, but also potential to be a valid entry point for metal fans who are looking for something a little more challenging.
A solid album, and a good grounding, that could be the beginning of something all the more special.
7.0/10
The Order of Apollyon on Facebook
CHRIS TIPPELL
Slipknot, Scorpions, Faith No More, etc Signed On For Hellfest 2015
The 2015 edition of Hellfest Open Air has been announced and is once again being held in Clisson, France on June 19-21, 2015. Bands on the bill are below.
Slipknot
Scorpions
Faith No More
Judas Priest
ZZ Top
Slash (feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators)
Motörhead
Alice Cooper
Korn
Limp Bizkit
Nightwish
Marilyn Manson
Airbourne
Billy Idol
Anthrax
Five Finger Death Punch
In Flames
Lamb Of God
Killing Joke
Ace Frehley
The Quireboys
The Answer
Life Of Agony
Hollywood Undead
Godsmack
Armored Saint
Exodus
Nuclear Assault
Hirax
The Haunted
Dark Tranquillity
Iron Reagan
Beastmilk
ETHS
No Return
Sticky Boys
Breakdust
Venom
Children Of Bodom
Meshuggah
Arch Enemy
Satyricon
At The Gates
Cannibal Corpse
In Extremo
Bloodbath
Cradle Of Filth
Triptykon
Mayhem
Finntroll
Samael
Obituary
Ensiferum
Arkona
Dying Fetus
Skyforger
Alestome
Skinless
Craft
Vallenfyre
Enthroned
The Crown
Ne Obliviscaris
Carach Angren
Nidingr
Der We Einer Freiheit
Khold
Mutilation
Shape Of Despair
Necrowretch
Prostitute Disfigurement
Coffins
Bolzer
Deep In Hate
Fallujah
Morgoth
Desultory
The Great Old Ones
Cock And Ball Torture
Vorkreist
Tribulation
Hypno5e
Body Count
Rise Against
Dead Kennedys
Envy
Biohazard
NOFX
Madball
Terror
Saint Vitus
Woven Hand
Red Fang
Les Wampas
DRI
The Exploited
Eyehategod
High On Fire
Trap Them
OFF!
Weedeater
Orange Goblin
Orchid
Truckfighters
Ahab
Merauder
Code Orange
Defeater
Despite You
Rise Of The Northstar
Vitamin X
ASG
Providence
Broken Teeth
The Wounded Kings
Russian Circles
Glowsun
Twitching Tongues
The Atlas Moth
Wolf Brigade
Les Ramoneurs De Menhir
Elder
Samsara Blues Experiment
Terra Tenebrosa
Brids In Row
Witchthroat Serpent
Midnight Ghost Train
Machete
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