PRIEURE - JUSQU' AN BENITIER
PRIEURE - JUSQU' AN BENITIER
Country: France
Year: 2025
Label: Altare Productions
PRIEURE is a Black Metal band from France. The mastermind behind PRIEURE is Sans Visage (which means *"Without a Face" in English), who was kind enough to send us their new album "Jusqu’au Bénitier" on CD. This is PRIEURE’s second full-length release, consisting of 9 tracks with a total runtime of 45 minutes. The album opens with the beautiful intro "Introït", filled with atmosphere and melody, which sets the stage for the black metal onslaught that follows in "Prieuré". The song starts with a simple yet highly rhythmic beat before evolving into a classic black metal composition-blistering drums full of blast beats and hellish screams. The track flows through various tempo changes, sometimes slow, sometimes mid-tempo, only to erupt again into intense blast beats, reminiscent of a train charging ahead. All this is wrapped in melodic guitar phrases that strongly echo the 90s black metal scene-atmospheric and beautifully melancholic. The album continues with the atmospheric "Foi" (which means "Faith")-a transitional piece leading into the ferocious "À travers la forêt" ("Through the Forest"), which features Torve on vocals (known from Ascète). This track is savage yet atmospheric, full of 90s melancholy that grows on you with each listen. Despite the melancholic shroud, both this song and PRIEURE’s overall music carry a strong punk element, something I personally enjoy a lot. Next comes my favorite track on the album, the stunning "Marécages" ("Swamps"). It begins with a beautiful spoken-word intro by Quentin Foureau. The song conjures a dark, muddy landscape, as if you're wandering through unknown lands drowned in swamp water. The atmosphere is spectacular-medieval, warlike, and dark. Well done, Sans Visage! Also, it reminds me of the main riff from the emotional song ''Sarajevo (Φώναξε)'' by the Greek pop/rock band MAGIC DE SPELL, back in 1993. "Vautour" ("Vulture") carries on with a blackened punk vibe. A nightmarish song with alternating punk and black metal rhythms, eerie church organ sounds, distorted post-punk-style bass, and an overarching sense of darkness looming like the vulture it’s named after. "Le grand incendie" ("The Great Fire") follows the same black metal-punk pattern but includes surprising classical guitar passages that add a demonic, folkloric mood. The church organ also enhances the track's unique character. Then comes the atmospheric instrumental "Patience", filled with beautiful classical guitar melodies that pour from the speakers and transport you to mysterious places. A truly lovely piece. The album closes with the epic "Triomphe" ("Triumph"), a 7-minute masterpiece rooted in black metal and shrouded in a veil of cold, mysterious darkness. Its chilling, demonic riffs create both a haunting and epic atmosphere. Particularly notable are the bagpipes, played by the skilled musician Geoffrey Dell’Aria, which lend the song a completely different dimension. Honestly, I don’t know how this album evoked such strong emotions in me. As I mentioned earlier, PRIEURE’s music is rich in emotion and atmosphere, and this comes through clearly to the listener. Their compositions combine diverse elements in a way that is remarkably cohesive and harmonious. Sans Visage proves to be not only a talented composer but also a gifted artist, having created the beautiful album artwork and handled the mixing himself. The mastering was done by Torve (Borie de la Combe Noire). This is a very interesting release, one that grew on me more and more with each listen. The album "Jusqu’au Bénitier" draws inspiration from the journey of Saint Brendan, a Celtic odyssey from the early Middle Ages, following the travels of Irish monks across the ocean. Enriched with legends from the Brocéliande forest, the album touches on universal themes while also incorporating deeply personal elements. Listen to "Jusqu’au Bénitier" and travel through time alongside PRIEURE. The album is available on vinyl and CD. Support the underground scene, for it is the pillar that keeps the flame alive.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
PRIEURE CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556179410682
https://www.instagram.com/prieure_bzh/
https://prieure.bandcamp.com/music