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Herzel - Le Dernier Rempart review




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7.1
Band: Herzel
Album: Le Dernier Rempart
Release date: March 2021


01. Maîtres De L'Océan
02. La Flamme
03. Le Dernier Rempart
04. Berceau De Cendre
05. L'Épée Des Dieux
06. L'Ultime Combat

You may not speak French but doesn't this cover of a torn down wall and the shadow of a warrior standing behind it give you a hint of what Le Dernier Rempart is about?

News of good music travels fast in the days of internet and this why the vinyl version of Herzel's debut was sold out two weeks before its official release date. As a devoted fan of heavy metal, I am glad to say that the hype is justified.

With Herzel originating from France, the first band to mention as influence would be Sortilège but, in truth, the quintet's priorities seem to lie more in bands such as Manilla Road, Warlord, Virgin Steele, and Omen, while there is also a prog-power undertone reminiscent of early Queensrÿche and Heir Apparent. So, the references are clearly there but they are not meant to dismiss the album as sounding derivative. The presence of the bombard in the title track and in the outro of the closer, "L'ultime Combat" gives points of originality and a more epic feel to the album.

The songs are longer than what you would expect from traditional heavy metal, which actually makes sense since Herzel go for the more epic and progressive sound I already mentioned. "Berceau de Cendre", for example, has an introduction that is almost three minutes-long before we hear any vocals. Yet, nothing overstays its welcome here and the album clocks in at just 36 minutes. Overall, it is a very melodic affair, a bit Maiden-esque as far as the duelling guitar melodies are concerned, with energetic riffing and a varied pace. The vocals are fitting for the style with a little bit of reverb and the bass is audible and galloping, and reminiscent of Steve Harris (who else?). The production value is purposely slightly lo-fi and offers a sound that is vintage, where nothing is overpowered in the mix.

Last but not least, Le Dernier Rempart is a concept album split into two parts. The first part is dealing with Brittany history, while the second is about a hero named Herzel who, through a series of trials and tribulations, eventually delivers the Sword of the Gods ("L'Epée des Dieux") to Brittany. Are you seriously not sold yet?

Fans of medieval atmosphere and of stories of heroic battles, you know what to do. Let's celebrate the music of bloodied maces, raised swords, smoking ruins, and self-sacrificing warriors.

"Une seule cause, la liberté
Une seule épée, l'Épée des Dieux"





Written on 16.04.2021 by Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud!


Comments

Comments: 10   Visited by: 88 users
16.04.2021 - 11:14
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Didn't it have like bagpipes on a couple of songs? Or am I misremembering?
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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16.04.2021 - 12:58
nikarg

Written by RaduP on 16.04.2021 at 11:14

Didn't it have like bagpipes on a couple of songs? Or am I misremembering?

Bombard --> third paragraph
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16.04.2021 - 13:15
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Written by nikarg on 16.04.2021 at 12:58

Written by RaduP on 16.04.2021 at 11:14

Didn't it have like bagpipes on a couple of songs? Or am I misremembering?

Bombard --> third paragraph

Oh damn, you're right
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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16.04.2021 - 13:43
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Good reviev, one I like first 2 paragraphs here, good music don't need language, internet helps news travel fast. I parlous not Frances... Parlous englase... Super bad French...
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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16.04.2021 - 14:52
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Written by Bad English on 16.04.2021 at 13:43

Good reviev, one I like first 2 paragraphs here, good music don't need language, internet helps news travel fast. I parlous not Frances... Parlous englase... Super bad French...

You don't really speak English though. That's your entire schtick.
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
Loading...
16.04.2021 - 18:25
Rating: 7
SebaRaven36

This band has a future ahead
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17.04.2021 - 00:44
Rating: 7
Ansercanagicus
endangered bird
If you want a translation of the titles (but I guess they're not difficult to understand):
Masters Of The Ocean
The Flame
The Last Rampart
Cradle Of Ashes
The Gods' Sword
The Final Fight

Also I think this bands soundsa lot more like Der Kaiser (another French band from the 80s) than Sortilège.
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2024
2023
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17.04.2021 - 00:57
nikarg

Written by Ansercanagicus on 17.04.2021 at 00:44

Also I think this bands soundsa lot more like Der Kaiser (another French band from the 80s) than Sortilège.

I don't think they sound like Sortilège, but now that you said it maybe it's not very clear in the review. I meant that when someone thinks of French trad heavy metal, the first name that comes to mind is Sortilège but Herzel sound more like the other bands I mention.

I am not familiar with Der Kaiser but I'll check them out.
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17.04.2021 - 01:47
Rating: 7
Ansercanagicus
endangered bird
Written by nikarg on 17.04.2021 at 00:57

I don't think they sound like Sortilège, but now that you said it maybe it's not very clear in the review. I meant that when someone thinks of French trad heavy metal, the first name that comes to mind is Sortilège but Herzel sound more like the other bands I mention.

I am not familiar with Der Kaiser but I'll check them out.


Well, I got it, of course Sortilège is the famous one. But I found out we have a tradition of obscure heavy metal bands, playing epic stuff in the vein of Herzel, but usualy there's only demo tapes, and it's rarely great. Frankly I can't say Herzel ressembles anything I know, but it really is in the continuity of what has been done before. There's a bit of Blashpème (clearly on the high notes of La Flamme), ADX, High Power...

Der Kaiser have a couple of albums, I'd say the instrumentals are really great, and the singer is not really competent but have a cool voice, typical french singer of the 80s. There's also Orialix with some "epic" heavy metal concept albums dealing with legends and heros, but the production quality is even lower
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2024
2023
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17.04.2021 - 16:53
nikarg

^ I need to do my homework. I know Blasphème and I may have heard of ADX at some point in the distant past, but I've never come across with any of the rest...
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