Erlen Meyer are a French combo which I had not heard of before, despite their decade of existence. And with this self-titled album they do really impress me. The quintet (bassist Jérémy Abella, vocalist Olivier Lacroix, guitar players Pierre Berger and Jérémie Noel, and drummer Karol Diers) recorded this material more than a year ago, and the initial release was via Shelsmusic (May 20th 2013). The stuff was recorded and mastered at CWR Studio with Cédric Soubrand, and the mix was taken care of at Riddarborgen by Cult Of Luna’s Magnus Lindberg, who did work with Khoma or Kongh before.
With this nameless (or is it ‘self-titled’?) album, Erlen Meyer reconnoitre suffocative dimensions that combine dramatic Sludge with Doom-injected and droning Death / Black Metal. What strikes me most of all is the extremely heavy, oppressive and powerful performance - which is a necessary element for this specific kind of Aural Art, of course. Not many bands succeed to emplane such intensity, holding on for a whole album. But the real ‘fans’ amongst you might know that France (as well as, for example, Belgium and Switzerland; but that’s of no importance right here) houses many bands or projects that succeed to do so. What I do appreciate too is the nice balance in between the poignant Drone / Sludge heaviness (Neurosis, Cult Of Luna, or the many Belgian bands within this specific genre -think the Church Of Ra-current amongst others etc.) at the one hand, the bleak and post-blackened Doom-Death approach (with bands like Ulcerate, Dark Fortress or Ruins coming to mind), and the grim Morbid Death-current (think: Portal, Celtic Frost / Triptykon etc.). And besides, the sound quality is truly superior, with a nice balance in between the heavy-as-f*ck rhythm section, the vocals, and the leads. It does give the overall atmosphere that eerie and slightly uncomfortable feeling of fascination, wonder and disturbance. Who can resist this?