Pensées Nocturnes - DSBM/Classical

[Karamazov [RIP 2012/07/27]]

Um dos meus vícios mais recentes é verificar com regularidade as "newest additions" do Metal Archives, que geralmente costuma ter bandas de qualidade recentes e que praticamente ninguém conhece. Hoje dei uma espreita na tal secção do MA e deparei-me com este nome Pensées Nocturnes. No estilo dizia Black Metal/Ambient e por isso cometi o erro de julgar que se tratava de mais uma de milhões de "one-man-BM-bands" com produção de "bedroom", com riffs simplistas, bateria computadorizada tipo metrónomo e paragens repentinas sem sentido de estrutura para tocar umas notas acústicas fáceis. De qualquer modo o nome da editora chamou-me a atenção porque imediatamente por algum motivo me fez lembrar o espectacular projecto também francês "De Silence et d'Ombre", portanto decidi dar uma audição no MySpace.



Quando ouvi a faixa de abertura fiquei logo agarrado, graças à subtileza com que as transições acústicas/pesadas se sucedem e sendo eu um grande fã de música clássica, ainda mais impressionado fiquei com a utilização de variadíssimos instrumentos como cravo, violino, xilofone, violoncelo, flauta entre outros instrumentos de sopro e claro, sem faltar o melhor instrumento do Mundo, piano. Já não ouvia tanta variedade de instrumentos desde o Gangrene de Mirrothrone. Por entre devaneios clássicos, há espaço para secções calmas mas com instrumentos mais vulgares, tendo essas alturas como personagem principal as guitarras acústicas ou mesmo com distorção à mistura, em tons arrastados e doomish. As partes de black metal são caracterizadas por lancinantes gritos de terror e agonia bem ao estilo do DSBM, que em verdade se diga que não trazem nada de inovador ao género, mas a nível instrumental fui remetido várias vezes para Austere e nalgumas partes para Drudkh (ou será Hate Forest?), com melodias de guitarra em num tremolo nervoso que transpirava melancolia por todos os poros. A nível de baixo e bateria está tudo dentro dos parâmetros habituais, tendo o baixo sido captado com bastante sucesso, sendo evidente a sua contribuição para a sonoridade a um nível geral e mesmo a bateria tem vários ritmos para além das blast beats da praxe, com espaço para alguns fills interessantes de modo a tornar a experiência mais orgânica e humana e obviamente menos monótona.



Aconselho-vos a darem uma oportunidade a Pensées Nocturnes, caso apreciem a vertente mais depressiva do black metal, mas se procuram variação e originalidade, com a ajuda de instrumentos pouco comuns dentro do género. Podem começar com a Lune Malade:
http://www.myspace.com/penseesnocturnes

[Midgard]

Gostei muito disto, a utilização de tantos instrumentos é algo refrescante, adorei, é sem duvida uma banda a ter em conta. Obrigado pela sugestão.
A ver se me 'informo' mais sobre a banda e o seu lançamento.

[Surtr]

Também gostei bastante, a música que ouvi no myspace despertou uma certa curiosidade sobre o trabalho desta banda...

[diabox]

meh :z

[Karamazov [RIP 2012/07/27]]

Isto acabou de receber uma excelente crítica no Metal-Archives de um gajo já com algum andamento e para ser sincero penso que ele captou tudo o que havia para captar e descreveu-o bastante bem, vou postá-la aqui na íntegra:

Classic Black Metal - With Classical. - 96%
Written by Perplexed_Sjel on April 16th, 2009

Unique is defined as; “having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable”, as well as “limited in occurrence to a given class”. This one would could sum up French one man act, Pensées Nocturnes, roughly translated to Nocturnal Thoughts. However, the review submission rules state that a few sentences will not be sufficient enough to warrant inclusion into the Archives, so I will do my best to describe this reflective record as best I can. Its strange how challenges are presented to the reviewer, though it seems that the musician composed his music with consummate dignity and ease, two words not often associated with black metal, let alone the depressive sub-genre. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the bands record label, Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions about the prospect of writing a review for this rapturous record, entitled ‘Vacuum’. I was previously unaware of this band, since they’re fairly new onto the scene, so I welcomed the challenge with open arms. Having accepted the labels request, I began to listen to ‘Vacuum’ with an open mind and, despite noticing the depressive tag, the band were instantly intriguing. Never before have I come across a black metal band, specifically a depressive black metal band, who incorporates classical music into their own instrumentation and themes. I’m not a big fan of classical, but I do appreciate the immense talents it takes to compose classical music. Having listened to this debut a number of times through, I am now enlisted as a classical fan - particularly when its blended with metal! This remarkable take on metal music eventually culminates in a terrific rendition of a Chopin classic where, although the piano takes center stage, other elements combine with it brilliantly to make Pensées Nocturnes an underrated, yet phenomenally gifted musician.

This shrewd band are one they may meet much ridicule before they’re listened to. I imagine some will look down upon this band because of the sheer invention that has gone into creating it. It isn’t every day you come across a depressive black metal band looking to reinvent the sub-genre, to give it some credibility when it is currently suffering from a lack of talent (or so the masses tend to say). Ridicule will meet this band and this band will meet ridicule, head on and they will triumph over adversity. Why? Well, Pensées Nocturnes aren’t your average bedroom band. ‘Vacuum’ is very well produced. It doesn’t allow distortion to completely dominate its themes, or soundscapes. The distortion is, indeed, toned down in order to allow the multiple areas of instrumentation their own creative slot amongst the soundscapes. From violins, to cellos and piano interludes, Pensées Nocturnes has it all. It isn’t an easy feat composing classical music, and its even harder to incorporate it into black metal, AND its even harder to make a success of it. This style is NEW. That’s right, its brand new. There is a chance, with some recognition and an open minded approach, that this record and this band will spark a revolutionary in the underground. No hyperbole intended. No longer will bands be suited to playing no-nonsense styles of minimalistic black metal, where the distortion and poor production makes it sound like the guitars are slowly evolving into blenders and the bass has slowly drifted off into a vast space, never to return again. Oh no, Pensées Nocturnes may have engaged black metal and introduced it to a creative outlet called classical. This spectacular one man band have initiated a idealistic and visionary revolution that may actually induce some life back into a scene that many consider long since dead.

The success of this record doesn’t hinge on the creative, or dynamism as there are straight-up black metal sections for the typical fan. Remember, this is also depressive black metal. It does contain the standard tremolo leads, that drag us back again into the distorted pits of hell. The vocals, which are sparsely used, which surprised me greatly upon first listen, are clichéd but that’s the only way we’ll have them. Rasps of pain and sorrow fill the soundscapes that like to venture in and out of stereotypes. The distortion and tremolo leads, alongside the rapid double bass and fast paced bass section make us believe again that we’re in actual fact listening to a black metal record. At times, it takes some proving since Pensées Nocturnes are incredibly dynamic and strong in every sense, no matter which genre they play in. Whether its the typicality of the instrumentation (all of the above - tremolo style, fast-paced, action packed etc) or its the creative spark that slices open the listens mind, pouring out those negative pre-conceived notions and burning them with the flames of hell, Pensées Nocturnes transform into a shape shifter, a band that can slide in and out, in between, and around each genre and sub-genre they associate themselves with. The musicianship, especially when you consider this is a ONE man creation, is awe-inspiring. His ability to create down-beat classical music, and fuse that together with a depressive style is classy. From the rendition of Chopin’s classic, ‘Chopin Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1’ displayed on ‘Dés-espoir’, which is beautifully visual, drawing out perfect landscapes and loving relationships, as well as being relaxing and reflective. Vaerohn, the band’s creator, has a deceptive gift at making classics, like Chopin’s, his own.

He fuses Chopin’s original music, with black metal music - from the bass, which runs alongside the painfully exquisite piano, to the semi-acoustics that add a new and previously untouched texture to the already sufficiently beautiful soundscapes. Then we’re confronted by a new, yet outstanding and mildly unusual, ‘Coup de Bleus’ which doesn’t sound like any of the previous songs. This track has a light-hearted jazz feel to it, unlike the previous songs, which each express a fair amount of pain, though this song does spill out over itself into a more generalised black metal sound with some of the aforementioned elements becoming central figures once again, but soon there after, Pensées Nocturnes switch back to the style and ooze class. Listening to this song at times, in particular, can make me feel like a rich man, smoking my hefty cigar by the fire of some expensive bar, quietly sipping away at my glass of whiskey. The obscurities of the black metal influences, and the delights of the classical elements all mould into one mammoth piece. Whether you analyse the joyful bass section, which is ever present and always audible, or the lesser associated instruments with black metal, this record is a modern day masterpiece. Although I don’t doubt that it will never be as successful as Chopin, this music, this band and this man have the ability to be able to rejuvenate a dilapidated scene all by himself and through simple changes - evolve the genre, make it more than anyone ever thought it could be, transform and change it into something that can accommodate another genre of music, one almost exactly the opposite and house them together. In doing so, Pensées Nocturnes have produced one of the best black metal records I’ve heard in years. Eccentric, brilliant and genius.