Time to dip into a world of “plague, diseases, and strange afflictions” and although centred musically via the format of medieval sound, the narrative here is linked to the present satirically and more recent viral concerns. The members of these troubadours reside in other underground French acts such as Véhémence, Hanternoz, Cantique Lépreux, & Passéisme and they have become known for their work eschewing all modern forms of instrumentation. So instead of guitars we get riffs provided via lute, drumming via olden metal kit and psalterions, flutes and pipes, Sarrazin guitar and brass. Fitting curiously within the realms of black metal but very much at the more inventive side-lines it is hardly surprising that this is all quite a unique listening experience.

I shall use the English titles of the tracks here which start with the rabble rousing sounds of rebellion and discontent on ‘Great March of the Covidic’ A slow beat is rendered along with the rasps, spoken parts and indeed plague wrought coughing as the trill of reedy instruments dip us right back to the dark ages. ‘Bad Blood’ expands into a weaving dervish as the strings deliver a bracing hurdy-gurdy like vigour, vocals chant away and burst into clean croons. The swagger of the brass section also joins in and it really is like being flung back into another time. It’s a far from miserable listening experience and despite a song being named ‘Moribund withered with Pride’ the blackened folk-metal vitriol is upbeat and the vigorous assault is guaranteed to have you doing the Saint Vitus Dance. That said, the sombre death march of ‘Prayer of Comforting Presence’ is included midway to bring you right back down to and probably six feet under the earth.

Melody is always at the forefront here and songs flow with a rich and expertly played passion from the participants which at times makes you completely forget they have obviously mastered so many traditional instruments. The epic ‘Fight of the Devils arguing over the Possession of the Wisdom of the Dying Man’ is a wild energetic romp which sounds like the musicians are not going to let anything stop them playing. They finally do due to an intriguing spoken word passage. However, the requiem ‘Triumph of the Death’ proves the fragility of existence and that there is ultimately no escape from the reapers scythe. The fantastical bestiary of the album art is another aspect that goes hand on heart with the music and you can stare at it as it is literally brought to life by the players. It seems like the label realise what a gem they have on their hands here releasing this in a variety of formats. If you want to go the full hog this includes a very weighty large format hardcover 40 page Artbook embossed in gold hotfoil.

(8/10 Pete Woods)

https://antiqofficial.bandcamp.com/album/egrotants-souffreteux-cacochymes-covidards