Morte France – Hesperia (Historical Poetical Melodic Black Metal)

 

Tis the season for black metal of all forms (it’s cold out there and always in our hearts), but only a few can make it to the Deaf Sparrow ranks of “reviewed.” Remember, I don’t bother unless I’d give it at least a 4/5, plus the art has to catch the attention. So obviously we have that here. Morte France aren’t exactly from France, in case you weren’t aware, as at least one member comes from there as well another French-speaking land, Canada. So they’re more of a mysterious gathering as the better bands are wont to do. I briefly heard some of their early work and was impressed by the sheer grandeur of it, but it wasn’t until their latest, Hesperia, that I thought you should start saying you listened to them back then. Focusing their attention on French history and anti-modernity, this isn’t a step back, nor a step forwards, it’s a constant present that takes you on a grand, poetic journey.

   

The mixture of styles here is notable, including even some moments of unexpected dark synthwave to balance out the frigid tremolo as it shimmers through the aggression. One thing I’ve noticed about French black metal (though this isn’t purely French) over the past ten years, is the astute sense of poetry, rather than raw hostility. If I want that, I go to Germany, but if I want to feel something again, I go to France. Using a spectacular combination of low roars, melodic calls, and even gentle touches of versification, Hesperia find Morte France capture the medieval, cathedral sounds of the French tradition combined with themes of forgotten glory that resonates with emotional weight rather than terminus. This is the focus by which it achieves what most black metal consistently fails at, it captures the emotion we all know is there, but like to pretend we’re too callous to possess. Have a heart for once, or at least admit you do. We all know it.

 

Morte France Official Instagram

Written by Stanley, Devourer of Souls

Morte France – Hesperia
Antiq Records
Cover Art: Veneden Art
4.6 / 5