Epitaphe - I (2019)^{Release ID: 11131}

Despite forming in 2009, these French doomsters have only now in 2019 released their first full-length album. Presumably they have spent the previous decade honing their song-writing skills because these are not songs written by fresh-faced, naive young musicians. These, instead, are carefully crafted and expertly performed, with their ambitious vision of blackened death doom producing songs of variation and complexity on a level with any Tarkus or Close to the Edge of yesterday's prog visionaries. The albums layout is very symmetrical (intentionally or not, I don't know), the central third track and metaphorical eye of the storm is a gentle acoustic piece that provides a soothing respite from the intensity of the rest of the album. Second and fourth tracks, Embers and The Downward Stream respectively are both ten minute pummellers, that incorporate elements of dissonance into their death doom vibe that owes much to the icelandic BM scene. The opener, Smouldering Darkness and closing track Monolithe both weigh in around the twenty minute mark. These two tracks, however, are no monotonous lumbering beasts, but are vital and complex in their structure as the band forge their entire sonic arsenal into a couple of hugely satisfying and impressive epics. The album as a whole flows superbly well and has an almost narrative feel to it, as if illustrating a particularly profound tale. 

As a side note, the digital version is inexplicably "Name Your Price" on Bandcamp, so no-one has an excuse for not owning a copy!