Band:	Desillusion
Album:	Esprit Maudit
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	2009
A review by:	Jeff

01. Intro
02. Esprit Maudit
03. Prisonnier Des Ténèbres
04. Dernier Combat
05. Fin d'une Vie
06. Loin de notre Temps
07. Jack l'Eventreur
08. Des Illusions
09. Précarité
10. Rock'N'Roll Secours [Vulcain cover]
11. Rock 'N'Roll [bonus] [Led Zeppelin cover]

French Heavy Metal is not dead! Just have a look on Brennus Music roster and you'll find all what you want and need in the list! You do still not believe me? Ok so let's pick a name? randomly of course and? tada! We have a winner, Desillusion! Yes, you're not dreaming, this band plays classic old school Heavy Metal made a la French sauce and I invite you all to check their new release if you like this kind of music of course?

Clearly influenced by the dark side of Iron Maiden (yes you know the fast, loud and aggressive one),
"Esprit Maudit" is the second release of the French young guys of Desillusion. Their music is solid old school Dark Heavy Metal, with all the ingredients which must be featured in the recipe (the big riffs, the catchy melodies and arpeggios, the high pitched vocals and etc?). If the music is cool, the main problem of the album comes from the vocals in French and all and all, from the too important old school spirit that we can find on the album. I mean that we're in 2009 and still, the music sounds like something which was released in the 80's. So ok, I'm quite sure that it was a wish of the band but still, I can tell you that it will be hard for them to become popular. They're probably not looking after popularity but when you do good music, it's sad that only one problem can kill this opportunity?

The good thing with "Esprit Maudit" comes from the production. The artwork is cool, the recording is really good. Five years ago, the same kind of Heavy French bands should have proposed a really weak and unprofessional recording but now this is well done and I'm proud of this really good evolution. Add to the list that the members of Desillusion are good musicians and it's hard to do anymore reproach to the album? I know that I can look like an extremist when it comes to this French lyrics problem but just have a look at the album and you'll see that something is wrong. It could be better, with the same songs, the same musicians but with different vocals!

We still have the same problem with such French bands. The music is cool, the French lyrics clearly give a tedious feeling to the listener (even if he understands French). "Esprit Maudit" features good riffs and good Heavy Metal songs all in all but damn those French lyrics are just outdated and all similar! French Heavy Metal bands will have to react as soon as possible if they really want to find success. Two solutions, or they will sing in English now or they will find a way (I don't have the solution, let's be honest?) to sing in French in a modern and non cliché way. We're not in the 80's anymore so please give me something modern in the future. "Esprit Maudit" could be a successful album but it will never cross the French borders, and you know why I'm right? Wake up things can be changed!