Band:	Forteresse
Album:	Thèmes Pour La Rébellion
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	June 24, 2016
A review by:	Troy Killjoy

01. Aube De 1837
02. Spectre De La Rébellion
03. Là Où Nous Allons
04. Par La Bouche De Mes Canons
05. Le Sang Des Héros
06. Forêt D'Automne
07. Vespérales
08. Le Dernier Voyage

Independence and black metal. Name a more iconic duo. I'll wait.

Returning after a relatively lengthy silence, having been on a steady bi-annual schedule until 2011's Crépuscule d'octobre, Forteresse returned in peak form with another 8 songs of pro-Québécois separatist ideology, providing listeners with a (French-Canadian) history lesson dating back to the mid-1800s to go along with their unique take on the melodic/atmospheric black metal sound. Focusing on topics such as culture, war, and systemic bias favoring the majority -- thereby casting the minority into a second-tier class of life form -- Thèmes pour la rébellion is an emotional ode to those French ancestors who gave their lives fighting for a cause they believed in: anti-oppression.

Overlooking the politically-charged nature of the band, which is difficult to do when such a band would never exist without their members' beliefs, one can still find plenty to unpack musically. To contextualize that, however, it should be noted that typical Forteresse albums spend a significant amount of time building up to build ups, establishing an overall depressive mood with accessible, yet daunting melodies. There's still a depth of content to explore, but in a more subjective manner due to the focus on atmospheric setup, and so the audience is left in an interpretive position -- for better or for worse. After all, intended messages don't always fall on receptive ears.

Now this may seem a well-known observation by fans of the band, and it's a fact that should become quickly apparent to newcomers curious about their style, but this Québécois quartet are extremely theme-oriented and thus create their albums with a specific sound in mind, as if preconceived prior to writing. Just like book series are comprised of novels unique to themselves but fitting within the context of the big picture, every Forteresse release fits neatly as another chapter to add to their continuing story. This album is far more straightforward in its aggression and spite, but it holds its place in the band's growing history and brings with it an added freshness, incorporating a more epic approach with the soaring guitars to go alongside the accustomed harrowing shrieks and relentless blasting drums.

On its own, Thèmes pour la rébellion is an excellent black metal album, rapid-paced yet somber, and never straying far from the hate and anger you come to expect dating back to the genre's origins. As a Forteresse album, this is their magnum opus, and anyone with a vague interest in the band should be eagerly awaiting what the future brings.