Quebec, the last bastion or perhaps forteresse retaining an air of mystery around its black metal scene. With every minute detail documented about the genre elsewhere, the Canadian French speaking region of Canada remains somewhat aloof. Perhaps that is due to the fact that it just got on with things after developing more recently than in Europe. Also it’s maybe not as newsworthy due to lack of documented infamy. Apart from having a strong sense of pride and identity, attention has not been gained via the notoriety of church burnings, murder and sinister inner circles. Quebec has not attracted the black-packers, indeed there is no hub for them to start a search for reclusive band members. Since around 2015 the music has quickly spread to all corners though and interest is never stronger. That’s largely to do with Sepulchral Productions releasing it to the wider world and the strength of the music itself. I can’t say I can recall any album I have heard that is particularly bad within the Métal Noir Québécois scene, in fact it’s quite the opposite. The environment is as harsh and cold as anywhere such as Norway or Eastern Europe and the music is largely strengthened by an approach that is cold and calculated, unsullied by curveballs and experimentation and sticking largely to the doctrines laid down by the emergence of the 2nd wave elsewhere.

Anyway Sombre Héritage are very much part of things although only forming around 2019 and relative newcomers as far as this project is concerned. Spearheaded by Exu who is responsible for guitars, (some) vocals and lyrics, this is their second album following ‘Alpha Ursae Minoris’ in 2020. It’s pretty much as I would have expected before pressing play. Proffering a welter of scything tremolo riffs and battering drums this is not an album to stand still at all. It’s a barraging feast and a veritable blizzard of melodic blackness. There’s plenty of strength within the rampant numbers, the strumming ferocity is one with memorability and precision that will cling to the listener. Nothing in the way of dissonance here just powerful swaggering melodies thrust at you like a battle charge. If you are looking for a dark and sombre ride though you are not going to particularly find it here. Things are too vitriolic and furious in their call to arms. More so than I found on the former album. There’s a bit of a death march at the start of one song but otherwise, it’s all loud, proud and in your face.

Vocals are velocity hitting full-yells matching the swagger perfectly as well as hoary low growls on occasional slower parts. There are occasional backing chants cleanly bringing a sense of the grandiose and solemnness to proceedings and mystery is further enhanced for me by song titles and verse in French. A number translating to ‘Wild Hunt’ speaks for itself as do I guess ‘Tangled,’ ‘Torn’ and ‘Insolence.’ Another curious asset which I thought I was at first imaging is what sounds like birds of prey, corvids swooping in and making a faint clamour giving an air of nature and its hostility to things as well.

There’s not a massive amount to say here, hence the somewhat lengthy introduction. Rest assured though that’s not selling Sombre Héritage short. This is an impressive album and a perfect soundtrack to the ever encroaching winter.

(8/10 Pete Woods)

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https://www.sepulchralproductions.com/collections/sepulchralprod