Seth is not new. The French have been around since the late 90’s and are perhaps one of the most underrated bands in recent years. They were successful and became known in the underground because of an EP By Fire, Power Shall Be… which preceded their 1998 debut “Les blessures de l’âme” and after that? Well, from then on they went downhill, and until 2013’s “The Howling Spirit” Seth simply succumbed to the shadows. However that was a positive point. At some point in the past they split up as a band and after several years immersed in the depths of the French underground they came back and with an exceptional album, we’re talking about “La morsure du Christ”…and what can I say? The album is amazing. It’s a melodic synth driven Black Metal, but don’t wait here to hear “Emperor” or Dimmu Borgir”, there are less symphonic elements, but there is a very interesting combination of them with Black Metal itself. Only Heimoth (guitar) and Alsvid (drums) remained from the original line-up, It affects a lot what they have recorded so far.
Seth seems to have had time to mature this album , I say because it has no flaws, it is balanced and very well managed in its completeness and they have a catchy way of doing Black Metal in the French style without losing the melodic elements of the second wave of Black Metal. Seth was missing for about 8 years in the French underground and maybe they lost the chance to have those “classic tracks” that other bands had the opportunity to elaborate and build, but I have to tell you, on this new album they got it right, it seems it was purposefully, they worked out every last detail.
Seth has a medieval streak, but at the same time the guys are fans of raw black metal. So only tremolo is there at the same time as all the medieval and neoclassical atmosphere. “La morsure du Christ” is a very well done album and is already a contender for one of the best albums of 2021. Let’s talk a little about the evolution of Seth as a band with one example: this can be clearly seen from the fifth song “Hymne au Vampire (Acte III)” – “Acte I” and “Acte II” were included on “Les blessures de l’âme“, the previous album. Let’s compare them with each other: “Acte III” sounds really like a sequel, but at a higher level of technique. They tried a lot in the past, but now “La Morsure du Christ” is an extremely conservative work, there are no experiments here.
Well, if in the first song, on the whole, Seth keeps a balance between old school and modern black metal, then already in the second song – with a very symbolic name “Métal Noir” (“Black Metal”) – it becomes clear that this is modern black metal already and it is a fact. This feeling dominates until the end of “La Morsure du Christ“, only in the last song “Le Triomphe de Lucifer” one can assume for a while that it is “old schoolness with a modern arrangement.” Seth got the formula and used the way it should be. They are smart enough to learn from the past and move forward! There are elements reminiscent of bands like Vlad Tepes and Mutilation, but there are epic and folk elements to each track, which surprises as we listen.
Season Of Mist gotta be very pleased with this released, and also the band is. It is an album that doesn’t bring innovation or tricks or any avant-garde shit. No forefront of innovation in its field, bust just Atmospheric and Symphonic Black Metal with and well-balanced raw black metal. I have to say that this is an album that will not be one of those that becomes a classical or a reference in Black Metal, but it is a fucking lesson of how to make Black Metal and how to “back to the roots” and find yourself. BUY THE ALBUM it is fucking great!
Seth has a formula as I said and if the guys are smart they will be always around doing what they do best: Make quality Black metal with atmosphere. Every track is balanced and they start well and end well. Even the single small detail was considered. Seth knows how ti make an album and make it sound like a necessary album to listen to (A MUST). Me? I am the guy that listened to this album a lot of times and realized that it is close to perfection.
The album cover is a painting that depicts the fire in Notre Dame Cathedral and complements the proposal of the album as a whole very well … Anyway, “La Morsure du Christ” is easily elected as one of the albums of the year and just for that description he is already worthy of attention, and it is extremely recommended for the collector of good taste that appreciates art and music in its promal and brutal way. “La Morsure du Christ” is being re-released in Brazil, under license from Season of Mist, in a slipcase CD exclusive to Brazil, with a free poster for the first 30 purchases. The release of “La Morsure du Christ” is scheduled for August 9, with submissions from that date.
Rate: 666
You can buy the album HERE!
