Antoine Scholtès from the Clermont-Ferrand region of France has returned with his Atmospheric Black Metal solo project, Inherits the Void. Two years on from his debut full length album ‘Monolith of Light’, his new opus ‘The Impending Fall of the Stars’ will be released on the 20th of this month on CD, and once more it is Avantgarde Music doing the honours.

As you may imagine from the grandiose title that acts as a harbinger of cosmic doom, this album has a lofty air to it; from the implied message of interstellar destruction to the vast soaring and harmonic rhythms and melodies held within the album. Antoine’s style of deeply intricate guitar melodies laced with deeply atmospheric synth backdrops to create an impressive and larger than life sound. Whilst harder riffs, metronomic drumming patterns and thick rumbling play bass hold sway over the majority of this album, the violence and speed created is tempered at regular intervals by vast melodic interludes that allow the guitars to breathe and spread cold synth accentuated atmospherics. Vocally, Antoine matches his style to whichever style holds sway; so in times of marauding riffs and rampaging drumming his vocals are swift, raw and abrasive. Then as things turn to a softer and subtler style his vocals take on a cleaner, chanted vibe.

As you may expect from an Atmospheric Black Metal album, the tone throughout is of cold detachment. Whilst the musicianship and songcraft are of undoubtedly high standards throughout, I am left cold to this album when it comes to my personal tastes. However, there will be many who appreciate it more than I.

(7/10 Marksson)

https://www.facebook.com/inheritsthevoid

https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-impending-fall-of-the-stars