Band:	Malediction
Album:	Condamnés
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	June 2001
Guest review by:	Ch'ti

01. Prince Des Ténèbres
02. Le Fils De Satan
03. Condamné
04. Le Masque De Fer
05. L'Horloge
06. L'Ange Noir
07. Apocalypse
08. Les Enfants De L'Ombre [ADX cover]

A classic of French heavy metal too quickly forgotten from an equally neglected band.

First album from the late Malediction, Condamnés is a heavy metal LP which, although released in 2001, resembles a heavy album from the 80s, from its style right down to its cover.

Honestly, these 43 minutes of music are nothing but pleasure. Because the album manages to perfectly appropriate the characteristics of the genre, it does not disappoint. The drums are classic, the bass and guitars, on the other hand, offer powerful and striking riffs. The solos are particularly striking, notably the solo at the end of the track "Le Fils De Satan", which is probably my favorite track on the album.

The vocals are in French, which is generally not the case in metal. The mix of the 80s style with the singer's high pitched voice may bring to mind old French heavy metal bands like Trust or Sortilège, two legendary bands that likely could have influenced Malediction. In any case, with Condamnés, the band follows in their footsteps. From the beginning to the end of this album, there is not a breather, even less a filler, from the track "Prince Des Ténèbres" to the excellent cover of the band ADX, they did not miss.

Frankly, I think that this album is one of my favorite French metal albums, and I think that Malediction could have been one of the best French metal bands with Gojira, Gorod, or even Alcest, if only the band hadn't broken up only 10 years after its creation.

All that is to say that Condamnés is an essential of French metal, and that the band deserves a place in the pantheon of heavy metal. It saddens me that they were only able to release two LPs.