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.
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.
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.
When I got in touch with French top-label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions in very early Summer 2014, I went to my (permanent?) record shop in Leuven to search for some of this label’s ‘older’ stuff. Amongst this material: the album Regarde Les Hommes Tomber by French act Regarde Les Hommes Tomber. In the vein of pretty much all stuff on Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions, I was truly impressed by that debut album.
Déluge are a young quintet from the French city of Metz, formed in 2013. In 2014 the band independently released a very limited demonstrational recording on tape, from which the three tracks do appear on this album as well.
Bordeaux-based The Great Old Ones were formed in 2009 by Benjamin Guerry, who’s especially known, I think (at least in his home country) for his activities in the rather renewing and original Hardcore-act Day Of The Fisherman. In 2012, The Great Old Ones released their first full length Al Azif via superb French label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre, and based on the title and the band’s name, one might expect a source of inspiration by H.P. Lovecraft.
French act Paramnesia formed in 2005 and they released a first single, Les Contemplations, in early 2013. As from then on, the band decided to sort of number their tracks, and the self-released EP Ce Que Dit La Bouche De L’Ombre (‘what the mouth of the shadow tells’) consisted of the tracks I and II. Earlier this year, the band and Les Acteurs De L’Ombre released a split with fellow countrymen Unru, and Paramnesia’s contribution was called III.
