Dionysiaque - La Tourbe Des Rêves - review
Dionysiaque - La Tourbe Des Rêves - review
Tracklist
01. Aaron02. Accabadora
03. Hate Fruit
04. La Vierge Noire
05. The Two Headed Boy
06. La Commune Ou La Mort
A review by
AndyMetalFreak April 03, 2026
Dionysiaque is a French doom band formed 2014. From blending black and thrash elements with epic and melodic doom whilst delving into themes associated with death, mythology, and anti-fascism, they have one of the more unorthodox styles in the genre. You could say this is unsurprising for a band who recently signed with I, Voidhanger Records though, as they're a label well known for obscure, unique, and often uncompromising offerings. The band's debut Diogonos (2024), themed on the mythological figure of Dionysus, received mainly positive reviews, and so they now turn their attention towards their anticipated sophomore La Tourbe Des Rêves (The Peat of Dreams) hoping to maintain that form 2 years later. Much like the debut, La Tourbe Des Rêves was an entirely live recording, offering a raw, primal, and organic sounding experience that's unlike anything in modern doom, and their musical approach is darker and even more unique and intriguing than that of the debut.
Despite the strong political stance against fascism, the album doesn't strictly follow a conceptual theme; instead each song follows its own separate theme. For instance, the opening song "Aaron" is a tribute to the late American marine Aaron Bushnell who protested against the genocide in Palestine by setting himself on fire in front of an Israeli embassy. "Hate Fruit" follows the story of how Italian villagers retaliated against the fascists during the 1940s. "La Vierge Noire" is based on the anarchist Germaine Berton who murdered a far-right representative to avenge the assassination of French President Jean Jaurès in the early 20th Century. "La Commune" then talks about the social rise in Paris during 1871 that saw the slaughter of the rebellious population led by the bourgeoisie. Politics aside, the last two songs follow the grim and morbid subject of death. "Accabadora" is about elderly ladies in Sardinia who ritually practiced euthanasia, and "The Two Headed Boy" is the story of Siamese twins who were tried for murder in the 17th-century.
They are the album's themes, but what of the music? Well, throughout the 40-minute runtime, you'll encounter an unorthodox mix of genres from black and thrash metal, to avant-garde and delta blues, with traditional and epic doom still at its core. Remarkably, all the genres and elements are blended effectively without coming across as gimmicky or too weird due to some quite masterful songwriting. The themes coincide with the compositions, drawing you into a world of emotional suffering through dark and oppressive atmospheres, but just when you think there's no light at the end of the tunnel, it offers you a glimpse of hope in the way that the genre of doom manages best.
A main standout element is the vocals, mostly performed in a deep theatrical baritone singing manner with beastly growls and epic doom wails occasionally present. The riffs, mostly consisting of crushing mid-tempo slogs and moderate-paced traditional melodies assisted by pummeling drums and powerful low-toned bass, sometimes vary beyond the confines of doom, as you'll hear the occasional thrash-tinged or blackened tremolo riff, sometimes guided by a more complex rhythm. I find the solos outshine all other elements, though, they are superbly crafted and impressively performed, being full of an interesting variety of wailing, shredding, and traditional melodic phrasing. Because this was a live recording that only took 6 days, the sound is so authentic and intimate that you really feel as if you're listening to them perform in the room alongside you. This means it hits you harder emotionally and on a more personal level than most albums you'll encounter in, as well as outside of, doom.
If you think doom is a niche genre that doesn't push many boundaries, think again, the French are masters in the art of avant-garde and obscurity when it comes to metal music, more so than most, and so is it any surprise that a French band has innovated like this within the doom genre? It's unlikely you'll encounter another band like Dionysiaque, whether in doom or across metal as a whole. Whether it's the strong political themes or raw stripped-back production, or the unorthodox approach to doom with a combination of crushing melodies and wonderfully weird avant-garde features, La Tourbe Des Rêves is one of the most interesting releases you'll likely hear in 2026.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 7 |
Written on 03.04.2026 by
Written on 03.04.2026 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
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Posts: 589
This album sounds like inspire in Amebix's last album
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Posts: 8249
I feel that their music has evolved; it's more proggy, more thoughtfully composed, more avant-garde, "darker and even more unique and intriguing" as you say, and the messages hit even harder. "Hate Fruit" as a reference to "Strange Fruit" is superb and my favourite song of the album. Doom metal album of the year contender for me.
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 Posts: 64428 |
Posts: 64428
Good band and review, from Englishman
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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