Band:	Seth
Album:	La France Des Maudits
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	July 2024
A review by:	AndyMetalFreak

01. Paris Des Maléfices
02. Et Que Vive Le Diable !
03. La Destruction Des Reliques
04. Dans Le Cœur Un Poignard
05. Marianne
06. Ivre Du Sang Des Saints
07. Insurrection
08. Le Vin Du Condamné
09. Initials B.B. [Serge Gainsbourg cover][deluxe edition bonus]

The French Revolution may have ended in 1799, but Seth have now re-captured the legacy of one of their nation's most historic moments through their impressive signature black metal sound.

Seth (whose title could be a reference to the name given to Adam and Eve's third son in the Hebrew Bible) are one of the most overlooked and underappreciated bands in black metal, or at least they were until they unleashed what was for me (and many others I'm sure) the best black metal release of 2021, La Morsure Du Christ. That release 3 years ago was in fact my introduction to this quality band, and after delving deeper into the band's discography, I'm now left wondering how I managed to miss them for so many years. The French black metallers have now released 7 full-length albums since their establishment back in 1995, which now includes their highly anticipated latest offering La France Des Maudits (translating to France Of The Accursed), but does this follow on from the standards of their very impressive previous release?

This latest release features a six-man line-up that's been left unchanged since 2019, as founding members Alsvid (drums) and Heimoth (guitars) are joined once again by Saint Vincent (vocals), Pierre Le Pape (keyboards), Drakhian (guitars), and Esx Vnr (bass). The theme is reflected in the cover art itself, and is unsurprisingly based on the French Revolution. Lyrically, they detail those turbulent events that brought the nation of France to its very knees, ultimately leading to one of the most important rebellions the world has ever witnessed, and La France Des Maudits invokes the spirit of those unyielding rebels who were bloodthirsty for revenge in their fight for justice and liberation in defiance against divine oppression. Black metal has covered many dark and sinister historical events over the years, including the subjects of witchcraft, the Occult, and various wars and armageddon, but specific historical events such as the French Revolution aren't often covered; however, this lies within Seth's domain, and here they portray those events in true blackened, fiery, hauntingly melodic fashion.

The album begins with "Paris Des Maléfices", which sets listeners off with an eerie symphonic-based introduction that quickly leads to a frenzied blast beat attack, accompanied by furiously powerful bass and ferociously melodic tremolo riffs, before Saint Vincent introduces his passionate blackened shrieks, after which you're introduced to a slower atmospheric section that breaks into the first incredible lead guitar break. By now, you would have gathered Seth have once again unleashed their signature black metal style and sound by merging atmospheric, melodic, and symphonic elements together, and a polished yet dense production allows for a captivating, blood-rushing feeling, where you can imagine walking along the crowded rebellious streets amidst the chaos during the revolutionary period yourself.

This atmospheric, cinematic journey continues with symphonic elements containing majestic choir chants and classic instrumentation, along with epic build-ups, and vocals styled in a sinister French narration. An atmospheric symphonic/acoustic interlude titled "Marianne" breaks things up mid-way, allowing the album to recharge itself before returning for an even stronger second half of the album. It might seem unfair to say the album truly begins after the mid-way interlude, but it truly does. "Ivre Du Sang Des Saints" follows "Marianne" and contains some of the album's most beautifully crafted guitarwork in the form of soft twin guitar melodies followed by a stunning, memorably melodic riff melody. Following is another standout track titled "Insurrection"; now, you don't need to understand the French lingo to recognize that the lyrics behind the passionate cinematic vocals here are deeply moving and meaningful, and this is made all the more captivating by some fantastic symphonic compositions and great blackened instrumentation.

La France Des Maudits proves to be another impressive effort; it's joyously melodic yet darkly atmospheric, filled with unmistakable character that defines Seth's position in the French black metal hierarchy. What Seth have succeeded here is creating a perfect soundscape for the French Revolution, one that captures the true tribulations and horrors of those who fought with honour for their freedom, and then captures the great moments of joy from those rebels who got their bloody revenge after sending their enemies to the guillotine to pay their price with their heads. For me, only La Morsure Du Christ stands in the way of La France Des Maudits for being the band's best release to date, and I firmly believe there are more albums of this calibre to come.