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artist: Drastus
title: La croix de sang
year: 2019
genre: Black Metal
type: Album
label: NoEvDiA
language: English
rel. date: 2019-03-01
source: WEB/MP3
quality: CBR 320kbps / 44.1 kHz / Joint Stereo
runtime: 00:46:52
size: 107.4 MiB / 7 tracks
rip date: 2026-07-01
source url: https://open.qobuz.com/album/vbybzmrxgf9ic
tracklist:
01. Nihil Sine Polum 5:24
02. Ashura 5:35
03. Crawling Fire 8:46
04. The Crown of Death 8:49
05. Hermetic Silence 2:23
06. Occisor 6:07
07. Constrictor Torrents 9:50
release notes:
France is the birthplace of one of the most profound modern day
underground Black Metal scenes. They have managed to take the genre a
step further through vast experimentation with bands like Peste Noire and
Deathspell Omega, inspiring a whole new generation of bands throughout
the world. Somewhere there, under a cloak of darkness, you will find
Drastus, an innovative one man Black Metal band that stands out from the
rest of the bunch.
Drastus through hard work have managed to capitalize all the elements
that make the French scene so unique, along with some Icelandic
influences from the likes of Svartidau├░i, and present them to us through
their latest release "La Croix de Sang". An album with a spirit shrouded
in darkness, a combination of complex compositions and showcase of
skillful writing, is without a doubt a step further from their debut
album. Specifically, the installation of intricate drumming, that lacked
from their previous work, along with being very meticulous to every
little detail, lifts the album up to a whole new level of existence.
The album kicks off with "Nihil Sine Polum", an outstanding album opener
that sets the dark tone of the album from the beginning, with high
pitched vocals before concluding with some amazing tremolo picked
guitars. Coming up next, "Ashura", comes crushing in with a wave of
intensity explosion, ominous vocals and blast beats appearing out of
nowhere. "Crawling Fire" demonstrates everything this album has to offer
creating a frightening atmosphere in agony. The combination of harsh and
clean vocals works exceptionally well with the seething guitar riffs to
produce a stunning result.
"The Crown of Death" is a continuation of the frightening experience that
the previous introduced us into. Groaning riffs, clean vocals and
masterful showcase of complex drumming make this track one of the
standouts. "Hermetic Silence" is an instrumental track providing the
album with ambience and mystical atmosphere, while also enabling the
listener to contemplate upon what has passed and what's yet to come. The
last fifteen minutes are a great unification of two prolific tracks that
make for a perfect epilogue. "Occisor" is my personal favorite, with jaw
dropping ceremonial chants, thunderous riffs and piercing menacing aura.
To finish it off, "Constrictor Torrents" is a multi-layered dark track
that takes you away from reality to a trip of finding your inner-self.
In conclusion, this album is a journey full of thrilling moments, filled
with variety bringing forth a modern style of Black Metal full of
aggression. A very professional production complements the album's
elements and dynamic tempo changes very well, while the lyrical themes
consist of occultism, cosmos and death. Drastus have managed to take
their place in the French elite and is a band that will definitely
concern us in the years to come.