I love French Black Metal, and that goes back to the early 2000s when I first heard Mutiilation, Anorexia Nervosa, Deathspell Omega and Osculum Infame. From the press release: Gravenoire was formed in early 2022 by Maximilien Brigliadori (BÂ’A, Diablation, former Hyrgal), Emmanuel Zuccaro (BÂ’A, Verfallen, former Hyrgal), Vicomte Vampyr Arkames (Diablation (former Seth / Ad-Inferna) and RMS Hreidmarr (Glaciation, BÂ’A, former Anorexia Nervosa / The CNK). So there you go, literally the French Black Metal elite, and guess what? It sounds like all those bands and influences coalesced into one frothing Black Metal beast and Devant La Porte Des Étoiles is that creature.

Recorded live in their rehearsal studio somewhere in France so that it captures that raw feeling of malicious intent, and guess what? It doesn’t sound shitty! It’s perfectly balanced. This is shown first in the orchestral “Pavens” a suitably bombastic introduction that evolves into “France de l’Ombre” and even though it’s hot and humid as fuck today, I could feel my blood going colder with each note.

This is an EP so it’s a short sword but deadly nonetheless. 25:16 is more than enough time to get the job done, “Ordo Opera Cultura” is a pulse pounder. Devant La Porte Des Étoiles black heartbeat is pushed to the limits  with “Aux Chiens” and then frozen solid within the crawl of “Granit” followed by the soul haunting melodies within the walls of “Gravenoire.”

A good EP is like a resume especially if you’re a new band looking to make a name for yourselves; Devant La Porte Des Étoiles is that EP. It’s biting and vicious, dark and beautiful when it needs to be. It’s the 90s and beyond, the Kvlt fans of Gorgoroth, Darkthrone and the Hordanes Land split between Emperor and Enslaved, early Satyricon (Shadowthrone and Dark Medieval Times)… you get the picture.

So, my humble advice is to get this and revel in the cold brutality of Gravenoire. Like, now.

[Visit the band's website]

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