KPN- La Sanie des siècles – Panégyrique de la dégénérescence (De Profundis first press 2009)

Peste Noire, with members from the famous Alcest and Amesouers, is another one of these French black metal bands that have conveyed the rawest and most beautiful aspects of the music. Guitar playing is simple, flowing, with many stereotypical French style of playing as well as their own tinge of originality. Some very beautiful acoustic patterns also present, furthering the sound of the music. Of course this could just be a personal preference, but I’ve always found acoustical passages can make the music so much more enjoyable, especially if they can get the harsh and classical contrasts to mix seeminglessly as they’ve done on this album.

Vocals are my other highlight of the album. The screeches meld into the music, causing it to become one with the music making the voice less of a tool as I’ve noticed it being used as in many other black metal bands, but as an extension of the music, and instrument on it’s own. Very well done.

Bass can actually be heard on this album, which is a rarity on black metal albums, however it doesn’t contribute much. Drums are also well played, but lay simply as the foundation of the music. It’s not the primary of the music, like the guitars and the vocals are.