Strynn – Decadence (2013)

After all the excellent Black Metal we have heard from France in the last few years, we can’t help but wonder what kinds of stuff they are putting on the baguettes that produce such excellent musicians. With epic bands like Peste Noire, Alcest, Merrimack, Glorior Belli, and now Strynn, this country is starting to get some serious reputation in the Metal scene. Delivering 11-tracks of crushing Black Metal with nice melodic passages, “Decadence” is a very entertaining release that any fan of the genre should listen to.

Opening with sheer guitar power on “Awakening”, the band delivers a very well timed track that is quite melodic but it also imposes itself on the listener. The riffing onslaught finally picks up with devastating tracks like “Burial”, “Uncreation”, “Emptiness”, and “Datura”. The band uses two guitarists and no bass guitar player, making the guitar the main driving force behind the aggressive music. Strynn also features two alternating singers to keep things fresh and if we told you that one of them is Female, you probably wouldn’t believe it either.

The band’s ability to change tempos and deliver epic melodic passages on songs like “Despair” make their music quite enjoyable and fun to listen to. As the band pummels through “Burnt”, “Arsonist”, and “Degeneracy”, we start to get a repetitive vibe that while not bad since the band plays Black Metal anyways, does get a bit tiresome since the album clocks in at around 43 minutes.

Closing with the awesome “Decline”, the band leaves on a high note thanks to the twin guitars and very simple-yet-effective drumming. If you are a fan of Black Metal and likes some melodic elements mixed in with the brutality and harshness, look no further and pick-up a copy of “Decadence”. Strynn is an excellent band and it deserves more recognition in the future, so be sure to keep an eye out for them and recommend them to your friends.

Release: March 2013

Genre: Black Metal

Country: France