Band:	Celeste
Album:	Assassine(s)
Style:	Black metal, Hardcore, Sludge metal
Release date:	January 2022

01. Des Torrents De Coups
02. De Tes Yeux Bleus Perlés
03. Nonchalantes De Beauté
04. Draguée Tout Au Fond
05. (A)
06. Il A Tant Rêvé D’Elles
07. Elle Se Répète Froidement
08. Le Cœur Noir Charbon

A few tweaks here and there can make a whole lot of difference.

Celeste has become one of my favorite bands during the past decade. This is odd because I don’t understand French. I’m a slave to google translate. Yet of all the French bands and artists I know and love, Celeste ranks easily in the top 10 acts that make me want to learn the language. Their aesthetic is simply sublime to me and deeply touches a dark corner of my heart. The visuals, the words and the music are all so dependent of one another that they create a fantastic and complete work of art. They are a band with a unique, very recognizable, identity.

Sometimes that can act as a double-edged sword, though. Celeste’s discography has been, for lack of better word, extremely consistent style-wise. Their constant bombardment of blackened sludge metal is rabid and merciless. The anguish expressed by the furious drumming, vicious vocals and never-ending waves of caustic riffs run often the risk of overstaying their welcome. It is simply too much of a good thing to handle for a long period of time. This in turn does make their music stand out due to how intense it gets. But sometimes you need that tiny pause to make an album's atmosphere fully absorb the listener.

The more I listen to Assassine(s), the more I believe they have taken all their previous discography into consideration, evolved and found this precise balance of breathtaking light and vitriolic darkness. By 41 minutes, this is their shortest album yet and it works in their favor. Every section is airtight and knows exactly when to stop and change. The difference in sound is subtle but it’s already obvious with the opener “Des Torrents De Coups”. The drums have this really full sound that is very muscular and intricate. It reminds me of the drumming from Year Of No Light. And just like their countrymen, Celeste builds itself up in a more post-metal fashion which shifts the formula a bit from previous records.

Not only there is more breathing room in-between the assault of fast paced riffs and blastbeats, but the riffs and leads themselves are more melodic. They take a little bit off their unhinged violence but add a lot of emotional weight, which is a fair trade. The riffs sound extremely heavy thanks to the impeccable production that elevates their volume, making them stand out even during the quieter moments. Once the band goes back to their aggressive tone though the contrast just makes the black metal influences shine through much more convincingly. If there is one thing that is unchanged it is the vocals. They continue to have this raspy, desperate “I want to burn this house with us in it” type of passionate insanity. I did notice they appear a bit less frequently, letting the music tell its story instead. The closing track throws a curveball with delicate female vocals. This makes me want Celeste to try a bit more with other vocal styles in the future as this experiment makes for a very fitting ending.

All in all, Assassine(s) is a fantastic addition to the Celeste’s repertoire. The higher sense of dynamic makes for an oppressive yet addictive atmosphere. At first it reels you with its warmth, only to hurl you right into a vortex where obsessive passion meets unchecked rage.