Review : AMESOEURS – “Amesoeurs”

Amesoeurs – Amesoeurs
released March 27, 2009 on Profound Lore

Those of you educated in the vast expanse that is musical genredom will be able to say that post-punk and black metal have nothing in common. Even those of you who have never heard of either style should be able to tell immediately that they are unrelated. I agree. The Cure and Mayhem really don’t share any musical aspects with each other. However, the French men and women of Amesoeurs have torn down the wall and created one of the most intriguing sounds of today.

Album opener “Gas in Veins” begins with a pounding, metronome-like bassline, soon giving way to a melancholy guitar riff that is really the highlight of the whole album. Eventually, melodic, stressful guitar work and drums pop up. The drums then exit, allowing for some time to think. Then, it’s almost as if an explosion just comes out of nowhere as tremolo picking and blast beats take the stage. This just about sums up the rest of what you will hear on this record. However, most songs do not feature both styles. It’s really either one or the other. “Faux Semblants” (false pretenses) sounds like it came straight out of the ’80s, with chorus-laden guitars, drifting basslines, and relaxing female vocals. This is the predominant style on the album, but they do it pretty damn well.

For those searching for more of a black metal album, the Angelic Process influenced “Heurt” offers some more blast beats as in the first track. Audrey Sylvain also lets out some near saxophone-sounding screams on the track as well. If that’s still not quite what you were looking for, “Recuillement” (meditation) is mid-paced and depressing but also has some pretty awesome screams from Neige. However, “Trouble (Eveils Infames)” is really the only track with the anger one might expect from a black metal band. I, personally, wish they would do more of this since it is my favorite on the album.

Despite their creativity, it is not perfect. It feels like they are searching for direction but cannot figure out what to do. It is a breed of metal that certainly fascinates, but it needs more… oomph. Unfortunately, they broke up immediately following the album’s release due to a disagreement on this very subject. Hopefully we will see some other bands formed out of the ashes to hear these guys refine from this crude form into a more refined model.

FCC OK
Try 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

01. Gas in Veins
02. Les Ruches Malades
03. Heurt
04. Recueillement
05. Faux Semblants
06. I XIII V XIX XV V XXI XVIII XIX – IX XIX – IV V I IV
07. Trouble (Éveils Infâmes)
08. Video Girl
09. La Reine Trayeuse
10. Amesoeurs
11. Au Crépuscule de Nos Rêves

Rating: