After an acclaimed EP and Split, french black metallers VI, a project made from members of Aosoth, Antaeus and Merrimack, have finally release their awaited debut record, via Agonia Records, a label that has brought us a number of black metal pearls from the underground in the past couple of years.
“De Praestigiis Angelorum” has fully exceeded all expectations and is probably one of the best records released this year on this genre. What makes it so special and interesting is that it’s purely black metal, but it doesn’t fall into some clichés nor uses the old and exhausting raw black metal formula with a crappy production. You can tell a few Deathspell Omega like influences and touches, without getting to far from the straight up black metal sound, and still conserving its originality.
Musically speaking, the intro gives away and sets the ambience for what is to come. A touch of dissonance riffs, some beautifully crafted gloomy and dark orchestrations and some powerful drums. You can even feel the echoes of dissonance in the background. The tracks “Regard tes cadavres car il ne te permettra pas qu’on les enter” and “Il est trop tard pour rendre glorie. Ainsi la lumiere sera chan” are the ones that stand out the most and better reflect the feeling and the spirit of this album. But overall it’s a very homogenous and solid record.
In short, this debut effort from the group is one of the finest examples of what the French black metal scene has to offer, and a proof that in the present days, France is a synonym of quality when it comes to Black Metal of all its forms. It’s new and refreshing, and pays attention to details, they’re much more than a band that tries to revive the good ol’days of black metal in the 90s. And that is excellent. The well crafted musical nuances that enrich this record, make it a special piece that will for sure keep playing for many years to come. Recommend to those who look for something more composed in a pure black metal album.
9/10
