Coming from the prolific Paris black metal underground comes the debut album of Fleckentarn, a noisy and blackened punk romp of an album. Chugging out simplistic raw punk riffs and a steady oi beat, this is a mind numbing yet deep album that creates a heavily emotional atmosphere that took me a few listens to really let the album sink in. Through the thick hazy production and raw vitriolic screams shines the shimmering silver melodic lining that this album holds, which makes it such a treat after digging through the thick demo like production, which continued from their previous EP release titled, Deuil Septembre.
There’s a certain sound and style to this style of music that walks a thin line between black metal, punk, and even post-punk. The only thing ‘black metal’ about this are the raw screeching vocals and raw production, but musically its certainly not metal. Now, this doesn’t take away from the music its self because of its uniqueness and raw attitude and emotion behind it. With trance-like and psychedelic qualities of swirling melodies and rigid tones that you don’t really notice much at first because of how chaotic it all sounds. That’s one thing about this album, it takes multiple listens to really have it sink in and to pick up all the details that lie within. Personally, I go back and forth and the whole super muddy demo style recording trend that’s been popular among new bands within the genre. Trying to emulate an older era of the genre when it was a lot more humble. On one hand, I enjoy that raw noisy sound as it becomes a sort of white noise that just scratches the brain funny, but on the other hand, it draws back on the actual presence of the instrument itself. Fleckentarn however incorporate that raw noise into their melodies and riffs itself, using it more as an enhancer if anything. Making it rather hypnotic with dreary synth tones whining in the background almost sound like steel guitars bending.
It can get rather tiring when release after release of new bands have all been these raw muddy demo style productions that is all just style and no substance. You can’t just slap a noisy exterior and jangle some guitars and call it a day and Fleckentarn proves just that. They really give it a more honest approach and the sound feels more authentic and closer to the heart, while still having that modern appeal. After listening to Deuil Septembre I didn’t think their debut release would be of much substance, and another band to throw on the ‘raw black metal’ pile, but there is a diamond among the rough and Les mains pâles du chagrin is just that. Its a minimalistic aesthetic that really shows that sometimes less can be more, with just how much emotion is being pushed through guitars. As I mentioned before, it can get rather hypnotic.
I would defiantly say check out this release, especially those who are fans of more stripped back and raw minimalistic blackened punk metal or what ever you wanna call it. This is an album worth the listen.