Monarque - Jusqu'à la Mort (2019)

The Canadian wave of Black Metal is here to stay and the latest masterful offering comes from the legendary Monarque and their latest EP “Jusqu'à la Mort”. Featuring three songs and over 20 minutes of uncompromising Black Metal, the band instantly reminds us why they are one of the most feared and crushing outfits to ever come out of Canada. Not for the faint of heart, this release is both traditional and yet modern sounding, while keeping their ravaging style intact.

Opening with the EP title track, the band sets a furious pace with hectic drumming and oppressive riffing. The hellish harsh vocals create a very dissonant and eerie vibe, similar to early 90’s European Black Metal. With a certain melodic edge thanks to the keyboards and tempo, this track is one hell of an opening statement. Things get a lot more catchier with the brilliant “Le Serment Prononcé”, a track that while filled with violent guitar work, it also features a very amenable tempo to headbang non-stop.

Closing with the eerie “Le Grand Deuil”, the band signs off with the most somber and exciting track in this release. With a very tense mood created by violins and atmospheric elements, this 10-minute tour de force is a great example of the band’s endless creativity and knack for well balanced brutality. Overall, “Jusqu'à la Mort” is one amazing EP that any self-respecting Black Metal fan should have in their collection. While the band hasn’t released a full-length release since 2013, we are hoping this is just a small sample of what is to come in the future.

Label: Sepulchral Productions

Release: June 24th, 2019

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Canada