Band:	Malleus Maleficarum
Album:	Des Bibles, Des Hymnes, Des Icones
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	May 12, 2004
A review by:	Jeff

01. Des Bibles, Des Hymnes, Des Icônes?
02. La Chambre Des Souillures
03. Neurasthenia
04. Souffre En Silence
05. Ignorance Enivrante
06. Interlude
07. Agonie
08. La Cité Des Hurlements Muets
09. Ballet Mortuaire
10. Espoir Perdu

Through Oaken Shield the subdivision of Adipocere Records for the Black Metal bands, "Malleus Maleficarum" [for the ones who don't know it, the name of the band come from the book of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger] do his come back with this new album "Des Bibles, Des Hymnes, Des Icônes?" [Bibles, Hymns, Icons] the 2nd real album for the band.
The message send by "Malleus Maleficarum" is simple, no religions, no idolatry, no nationalism. You'll understand that this Nihilist Black Metal band from France don't do "happy" music if I can say that? Anger, rage etc? are more than appropriate to describe the music of this new album and believe me that this new album follow the tradition of the band.

"Malleus Maleficarum" do a very aggressive Black Metal with a lot of strong guitars riffs, double bass drums and very aggressive lyrics. Yes, you'll certainly find the music of the band a bit minimalist but remember that they play a real true Black Metal and at the end due to a lot of very good lyrics in French very unhealthy but however very well written the songs of this albums are catchy, if of course you like this style of music.
For sure there is a lot of work in this album and "Des Bibles, Des Hymnes, Des Icônes..." is an interesting album, and the good point for me who is not a "true" black metal fan is that the band know to do some melodic parts in their music too and really it's a good point. To sum up, even if the music of the band is very brutal, well this is not only noise like some bands only do.
With 10 songs and 46 mins, "Des Bibles, Des Hymnes, Des Icônes?", is a real confirmation for this French combo which show again that France is in the top for the Black Metal productions.
With a nice production and a good sound even for a band who do "true" Black Metal and especially a great cover by DarkArts [Graveland?] Oaken Shield produce again a new very good combo made in France. However I regret that the lyrics are not in the booklet?

This 2nd album of the French combo "Malleus Maleficarum" is a good confirmation. I can only regret that some songs are maybe a bit repetitive but however, the level of this album is really good and if you like Black Metal I think that you could keep an eye on this new album. Plus believe me that French [I know, not all the people can read French?but?] is the perfect language for Black Metal certainly better than English [remember that a lot of authors who did dark writing like Beaudelaire wrote it in French?].
A strong and good 2nd album for "Malleus Maleficarum" a confirmation of the really good level of the band without any doubt?