Active since 2006, despite title, this is actually the fifth album from French duo ACOD and their first for LADLO. They are described as playing black and death metal and I noted that that Jérome of the highly regarded Celestia is the driving force of their instrumental aspects. This was my first encounter with them and I wasn’t sure quite what to expect but the intro piece ‘Sur d’Anciens Chemins’ suggests that there is going to be a pronounced symphonic element found here. Setting things up neatly it stirs the emotions and gets the listener set for whatever is coming next. Storm-clouds have gathered and the suggestion is that we are in danger of a downpour.

This arrives with ‘Genus Vacuitatis’ and a bombastic display of melodic aggression powered by the gruff hoary growls of vocalist Malzareth. It’s full of fist-pumping bravado and the suggested orchestrations are strong. Some spoken parts in French add a certain mystique especially as those from the brief female element are attributed to Audrey S making me wonder if this is Ms Sylvain. That is not the first puzzler here either as searching to find what the letters of the band name stand for have also so far drawn a blank. The music is easier to get a handle on however and bounces along admirably, choral aspects back the blackened bark and lyrics switch between English and French. Narratively we are informed that the album follows a “long journey of an uncommon soul into the abyss” and we plunder down to the depths via heady bass twang and snappy melodic signatures, falling from faith along the way.

There’s plenty going on during the 10-track album, we go from classical sounding piano to surging motions as one track ends in a sense of calm and the next abruptly snatches it away. I found ‘Nekyia Catharsis’ a particularly hook-laden number with its powerful “side by side” chorus chant and imagine this being a stormer live. Speaking of which I am not surprised they have to raise the stakes to include 5 of them on stage in this format. It’s a pretty impressive and powerful display here from a duo, no doubt boosted by a solid Fascination Street mastering.

Not an immediate album by any means and that could be because the duo like to mix and match things so much, for example the black and death, the symphonic and neo-classical, the French and English. Everything about it is relatively complex but it all fits together well and makes you want to immerse yourself in all the key elements. The second half after an interlude is full of burgeoning passages along with atmospheric instrumental parts and if you are reading along, a page turning story unfolding. The new label should provide ACOD with plenty more exposure outside their home territory. On the strength of this, they deserve it.

(8/10 Pete Woods)

https://www.facebook.com/acodband

https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/fourth-reign-over-opacities-and-beyond