I had never heard of this band, but they are on Paragon, which means they get my undivided attention. This is the debut album for Aldaaron, who sound so prototypically French I did not even have to look to know where they were from. Firmly in the school of bands like Aes Dana, Belenos, Himminbjorg and Nehemah, Aldaaron remind me of why I love the French scene so much.
I hear so much blast-and-screech BM that a band like this – that actually uses the melodic potential in Black Metal – is a startling reminder of what the genre is about. Aldaaron have a great, hard-edged guitar tone, and they use it to carve out excellent melodic tremolo riffing with epic sweep and an orchestral feel that is entirely independent of keys – There are keys here, but they are not the focus of the music at all. The riffs are not folky, but rather use scales and modes common to Celtic music, lending a keen, haunting feel to their compositions. The band shows a lot of dynamic, shifting between fast and slow easily, using it for a purpose rather than just doing it for no reason. The lead guitar work is sparse but sharp and beautifully composed, with skillful use of harmonic and descant to counterpoint and accent the main riffs. The vocals are a bit flat, often sounding too one-dimensional and monotonous, not nearly as varied and agile as the music, so the extensive passages where there are no vocals are where this album really soars.
This is a rookie band, but their music shows a tremendous depth and style, and they seem to have a really firm grasp on what Black Metal is supposed to be about and what it can do. With greats like Himminbjorg and Nehemah out of action for so long, it's great to have a new band that seems to have the stuff to become great. This is a band to watch, and a disc to seek out and take pleasure in. Highly Recommended.
