Band:	Csejthe
Album:	Réminiscence
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	April 15, 2013
Guest review by:	BetulaObscura

01. Oraison
02. Réminiscence
03. Chasseresse
04. L'antique Blason
05. Adjuration
06. Dorko, La Malveillante
07. Maléfice
08. Chant Des Martyres

Réminiscence - this is second Csejthe studio album, and in my opinion it is one of the best black metal album ever recorded! I discovered this album 3 years ago and since that time it hasn't aged.

Réminiscence contains everything that good black metal album should have: dark, haunting atmosphere; some magic/occult/legend spirit; sublimity, melodic, powerful riffs; and great vocals.

Réminiscence is really nicely recorded and mixed. It is quite surprising. This album also "breathes" due to strong echo/reverb added to the mix. It creates amazing atmosphere, which not every black metal album has. It is dark and grim but in the poetic way, I would say. Many typical metal releases have a very close, crude, in your face distorted mix - this straightforward approach is often not satisfying because it lacks finesse; even total darkness should have some sophistication. I guess one of Csejthe's identifying sound marks is the echo/reverb that features heavily on their albums. It literally moves listeners into vast, mysterious areas, like shadowy glade within ancient forests, stormy wilderness under night sky, or old castle abyss. You will feel cold even during hot, summer days - I guarantee!

Réminiscence is a consistent album, kind of a music monolith, if you like. There are no weird musical experiments here. It doesn't mean that it is boring or unexciting; I don't have a feeling that any of songs on this band's second long-play are worse than others or just fill the time gap. It is a deliberately crafted artistic vision. It is a convincing dark-dream vision. The textures and shades of the musical palette offer many details to listen to and admire; the way the musicians build their musical world is quite impressive. They know how to do it without being tiring. The vocals are not constant screams from the beginning to the end of each song; they appear in the right moments to enhance the mood and add some lyrical melody. The drums don't try to fill every possible second, and create millions of notes and paradiddles. This is solid drumming with lots of finesse and sophistication, building rhythm on the record like wind during a storm. The guitars are like a bleak veil of blizzard singing its cold tunes.

Réminiscence is not about each soloist showing off; Csejthe is about balance in extreme music. Because only the right balance between music elements can create proper harmony, convincing structure and extraordinary beauty.

To sum it up: Highly recommended black metal release!