Despite being a bit of a fan of the Quebec scene, Ossuaire were a name I was only vaguely aware of until this EP dropped in my lap. So nice to round out the year with this.
‘A L’Aube Impur’ is a moody, keyboard intro. Tolling bells, ominous echoing noises. Stillness. Then the avalanche of riff and drum for ‘La Sainte Purge’. And avalanche it is; raw and hostile with a tempestuous style. For a moment I am taken aback as the first thought that forms in this blizzard is it has that real Finnish/Sargeist feel to the melody woven deep into the icy cold riff. Its excellent regardless; scything and twisting with a vicious edge, the howled vocals simply adding to the cold soul of the song.
The title song is in the same vein, just different hooks. It’s full throttle though, a blasting assault on the senses. Some distant, brief clean vocals rising and falling. ‘Ignipotentis’ slows things with an acoustic intro and a weaving, sombre riff before that Sargeist sound hurtles in. There is a lot if influence here, but particularly when the song slows it has its own feel too which is good.
Closer ‘Cenotaphe’ is a mid-paced and darkly considered ending. There is a huge melody here, almost choral that is just beautiful and some clean, semis spoken vocals that being a whole new atmosphere to this, and definitely totally Ossuaire. In some ways its swaying style, the shift in vocals and how the melody is more keyboard and organ sound driven really closes this EP in a rich and splendid style.
Five tracks and a just about half an hour gives you a good grasp on what Ossuaire are about. And it’s enough to make me check out their previous work. Really rather fine.
(8/10 Gizmo)
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