Celeste - Morte(s) Nee(s)

Maybe I’d have a different perspective on this French act if I spoke French, but in all four of their album titles the words end in “(s)” and in their ludicrous photo on Metal Archive the band members in their stylish attire have arranged their bodies into an inverted cross, and this just screams of the empty irony and trite self-referentiality that is eating away the soul of metal from the inside like an terminally aggressive cancer.  Album artwork looking like a still from an early Godard, a style Celeste claims fuses hardcore and black metal, yeah, I’m judging this book by its cover, deal with it.   This isn’t black metal at all, not in structure, not in style, inverted cross notwithstanding.  The lyrics are ostensibly about nihilism but the music sounds like a band hung up on Camus. 

On the bright side Morte(s) Nee(s) is not bad if you’re into metalcore, and it manages to be a surprisingly original and moderately enjoyable, if almost immediately forgettable, take on that genre.  Celeste achieves a harrowing apocalyptic sound though layered guitars and a dark, meaty production.  Their sound isn’t far off from that of countrymates Overmars, at least when that band isn’t flailing around with experimental electronic elements, albeit far darker and angry.  So unlike your typical post-Isis band there aren’t any ethereal post-rock passages to be found here.  Instead the densely layered guitars drone on in waves of sinister, nightmarish minor-key melody, punctuated with violently sludgy riffs.  Rarely does the pace exceed a crawl, putting this closer to a doom album than anything else.  When it does speed up you’re treated to the spastic drumming and chugging riffs that hallmark Buried Inside, one of the better bands with a metalcore take on Neurosis.  A diverse range of song lengths and dynamic structures, make the bludgeoning mass of angst hurling at your ears pretty damn engaging.  The major downside is that Morte(s) Nee(s) lacks discernible riffs, so when it’s over you’re left with a vague impression of what the album sounded like but can’t recollect what any of the individual songs sounded like. 

I always try to include something of a disclaimer about the vocals when I review ‘core-ish releases, because in my experience that’s a huge sticking point with potential fans.  So, yes, vocalist Johan here spits and hollers in classic hardcore/metalcore fashion, most similar in technique to John Henry of Darkest Hour.  The style is going to turn off many listeners, but I think it works well for what Celeste is doing.  Johan sounds incredibly pissed off, for all we know because he snagged his cashmere scarf, but at any rate he’s a solid frontman for the band and his vocal lines lend some genuine fury to Morte(s) Nee(s). 

Maybe as a reviewer I should review the music qua music and omit paragraphs like the first where I cast doubt on the band’s sincerity and authenticity.  That’s a debate better left to the forums.  Suffice it to say I feel obligated to let readers know that when they’re looking into a band claiming to be, at least in part, black metal, they’re not getting anything of the sort.  I was surprised by what I heard, but I get to hear these albums for free, so it’s no loss on my part. In the end, however, I enjoyed this album, though it’s not one I expect to revisit.  Any fans of metalcore or the aggressive strains of the Neurosis/Isis sound will likely enjoy this as well.

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*Comments:

May 7, 2010

Release Date: March 31th, 2010
Label: Denovali Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Ces Belles de Rêve aux
     Verres Embués
2.  Les Mains Brisées comme
     Leurs Souvenirs
3.  Il y a Biens des Porcs que ça
     Ferait Bander de T'étouffer
4.  En Troupeau des Louves en
     Trompe l'Oeil des Agneaux
5.  (S)
6.  Un Miroir pur qui te
     Rend Misérable
7.  De Sorte que Plus Jamais
     un Instant ne Soit Magique

Total playing time:  41:53

Reviewer: Matt