Aorlhac are an act from France, and more specific from Auvergne and Aurillac. The band is named after the (old) Occitan name for the city of Aurillac, and must be pronounced as ‘our-yuck’ or something. It’s the Occitan history too that inspires the members, and the rich heritance of this region’s history. Aorlhac were active in between 2007 and 2010, and they started a trilogy about their roots.
I do (did) follow Arkhon Infaustus as from the transgression from last century to the current one. I do (did) surely appreciate all releases this French band did in the past (especially released via Osmose Productions), but I was not exactly totally blown away either (personal opinion – nothing you need to worry about) – yet at the same time, I think this band improved throughout their existence. So, I wasn’t exactly depressed when they split up about a decade ago, but still it was a pity.
Time Lurker started in 2014 as a solo-outfit for Mick, hailing from the French city of Strasbourg. Intention was to create post-modernistic Black Metal, conceptually based on the nature of humanity, and mankind’s struggle with inner demons, created by our own uncertainty, fears, subconsciousness and failures. It’s meant to be a sonic travel through worlds described by both Jules Verne and H.P. Lovecraft.
One exception aside, I honestly adore and admire every single release done, until now, by French top-label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre and their sub-label Emanations. So I was quite aroused when I did receive an untitled split-album, compiling material by three French acts that surely suit to the roster they’re on right now. I was trusted with one of them, hailing from the internal outback from pre-Alpine France, In Cauda Venenum.
~~Pénitence Onirique is born from an ancestral and powerful bicephalous mystical appearance…
“forget your world and open your souls because the great procession comes.”
V.I.T.R.I.O.L. is taking us for an initiatory journey to the meaning of death…
…and so on…
Young formation Lifestream hail from the Bordeaux era, one of my preferred regions when talking about rich French wines: Saint-Estèphe, Margaux, Pomerol. But this isn’t an oenological essay but a (serious) review on the band’s first official release, called Post Ecstatic Experience. The band consists of members from e.g. Demented and Otargos and they recorded (+ mixed and mastered) this debut at the Darkened Studio.
Pensées Nocturnes did release a new album in earlier 2016, this time not via long-time label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions (or sub-label Emanations?), but independently. Therefor I had been kindly asked to write down my nocturnal thoughts on Nom D’Une Pipe!, the third full length by this unusual one-man project. Pensées Nocturnes were formed in 2008 by Vaerohn, who joined Way To End a couple of years ago.
Moonreich are a French one-man army, or at least for the better part is still is, and so it was in the past. At this moment, founding member Weddir is recruiting permanent members to help him out live on stage and in order to record new stuff in the future. But still he remains the main character in his Moonreich-outfit.
Profundae Libidines are one of the projects that includes Rémi Depernet, who acts under the name Philoxera right here. At the end of spring 2011 he independently released a first full length, on which Rémi performed almost all instruments + he was helped out by several guest vocalists and a session violinist.
Next year French act Maïeutiste will celebrate its tenth anniversary, but throughout all those years, these guys have not been that active at all. Now, nine years after their formation, they finally come up with the nameless debut full length album, which gets offered to the (grateful?) audience by the sublime French label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions. The recording session took place as from 2009 up to 2014, with recording and mixing assistance of Ari Lausseur.
