Band:	L'Hiver En Deuil
Album:	Ter Aarde.
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	September 2013

01. Prélude
02. Ocean Black
03. As
04. Gesel
05. Fatum
06. Gekluisterd
07. Outro

French band name, Dutch album name can mean only one thing - Belgians!

L'Hiver En Deuil play a style of black metal that draw from one of their faves, Drudkh. Not in the nature sense (although we do hear an approaching storm before one track kicks off)- but rather a similarity of progressions, further run through the post-metal filter. Mid-paced looping riffs which build over time mesmerize the listener.

Tracks like "Ocean Black" and "Gesel" illustrate the merger of the two, as it builds from clean tones into a Hey Drudkh Don't Call Me Drudkh like riff pattern, into brute force kit pounding and howled vocals taking it to an intensity that reaches beyond their influence.

As with Agnes Vein's latest, which I also reviewed for Viral Propaganda, the sound of the album is fantastic. It's big and expansive, but with force behind it. It's got some bite. Further, all the component pieces have their space so all are identifiable. Guitar tone is swell, drums sound like some dude is abusing his kit and the vocals sound like they could be Black Neurosis in that the singer not only has a great BM rasp, but also does great clean, whispers, and roars that would make Scott Kelly nod in approval .

Quality of sound actively draws out the best of the tracks.

Biggest drawback is that of a lot of tracks follow the same trajectory, which can make the whole album seem a bit repetitive at times? but it is done well enough that it doesn't go beyond "haven't we met before?" into "this is severely annoying" territory.

So we have a massive wall of sound by a band influenced by some Ukes, which I've probably overemphasized, I suppose. I guess it's because they've taken one of the elements I (and I imagine a lot of others) enjoy, slightly adjusted the POV and created tunes that outshine their idols.

Worth a check out, definitely.