Band:	Misanthrope
Album:	Metal Hurlant
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	September 12, 2005
A review by:	Jeff

Disc I

01. L'Exaltation De La Croix
02. Théologie Du Misanthrope
03. Sentiment Nocturne
04. Reine Martyre
05. Le Triptyque Des Enfers
06. Le Haras D'Amazones
07. Metal Hurlant
08. Le Supplicié

Disc II [bonus]

01. Maître Du Temps
02. Sulfureuses Contestations
03. Le Commerce Du Crime
04. Plus De Descendance [featuring Patrick Rondat, guitar solo]
05. Théologie Du Misanthrope [instrumental]
06. Le Triptyque Des Enfers [instrumental]
07. The Stud Farm Of Amazones [English version]
08. Supplication For God [English version]

One year only after the release of the excellent Boxset "Misanthro Therapie" the cult French combo Misanthrope is back with a new album, "Metal Hurlant". As always some people will hate the really special style of the band (especially with the vocals and lyrics), and some others will love this album. Because believe me, if you like Misanthrope "Metal Hurlant" is a must!!!

I must admit that I wasn't a fan of this band in the past, I though that the lyrics that sound a bit theatrical sometime was boring and not so entertaining, but with some practice and since the release of "Sadistic Sex Daemon" in 2003 I clearly changed my feeling with Misanthrope. Actually when you think about it, their lyrics (sorry for the ones who can't understand French) are probably in the list of the best of the best ones. Well written with poesy and excellent themes (from religion to legends and history) the lyrics of the new Misanthrope are, as always with this band, really impressive. Also, and it's a good point in my opinion, it's a lot easier to understand them because the vocals are "clean" this time even if we still have those Black/Death voices.

Musically, "Metal Hurlant" is in the pure spirit of the others two last albums of Misanthrope but however, it's easy to see that, on this one, all the members worked on the compositions. If "L'Exaltation De La Croix" with its controversial topic about religion (Misanthrope are specialist of such themes) smells anger and violence, at the opposite a song like "Reine Martyre" (the story of the last moments of the French queen Marie-Antoinette before her decapitation) with its really sad arpeggio is really touching. At the end there is a lot of influences in the CD, from Death, to Black and Heavy. Believe me all the songs are really catchy and well done and with its excellent production, it's hard to find some bad points on the album. Misanthrope is not a newcomer, but this "Metal Hurlant" seems to be one of their best releases and without any doubt this album is probably their more mature.

Misanthrope is as always a controversial band, but when you read their lyrics and when you see the work on this album, only deaf and blind people have the right to say that they suck. Evidently, in reason of their really original sound it's easy to be disturbed by Misanthrope's compositions and I understand that some people don't like them, but at least they should recognize that Misanthrope is unique. With "Metal Hurlant", we have an evolution and it's easy to hear that their music is a lot more accessible now, then why don't you try this new album? If you like powerful mix of Heavy, Death and Black, you should?