On
first hearing the opening track on Seth’s “Les Blessures de
L’Ame” “La Quintessence du Mal”, what strikes the listener is
the raw production values combined with the ferocity of the buzzing
guitar, symphonic percussion and snarling vocal. The overall effect
from the outset is of an epic tale of mysticism and the supernatural.
On reading the associated literature, this may not be so far from the
truth, as the whole concept of the album is created around that most
romantic contemporary saga of vampirism. On closer inspection
however, what becomes apparent is that this album is actually a
re-release of a 1998 original. With this in mind, what now strikes
the attentive listener is how modern sounding this release could be
argued to be. The compositions are tense, and display many varied
textures within each passage. Whether or not the customer has had
their fill of melodic vampire metal, or not, “Les Blessures de
L’Ame” is unquestionably worth further consideration. It would be
difficult to analyse each track individually, but the overall
impression these give to the listener is one of being seduced by the
towering melodies and drifting swells of guitar and keyboard. The
music washes over the individual and smothers them in a blanket of
tenderness tainted with only the merest hint of obscurity. The
occasional peppering of gentle acoustic guitar and piano, on “Le
Cercle de la Renaissance” for example, further lulls the unwary
traveller into a sense of sanctuary and wellbeing. To describe this
music thus leaves the reader wondering as to whether these pieces
could follow that well trodden path of over-blown pomposity and
grandiose melodrama. This may be one way to interpret “Les
Blessures de L’Ame”, or it may be a gothic gateway to indulge the
listener’s dark fantasies. Tracks such as “...A la Memoire de nos
Frere” indicate the contrast apparent, with fierce riffs going hand
in black-laced-gloved hand with fragile melody. The instrumental
“Dans les Yeux du Serpent...” helps to draw together the luscious
symphonic element to many of the tracks and leave them laid bare for
analysis and extravagance.
Formed
in the French city of Bordeaux in 1995, Seth have evolved over the
years with a number of releases, “The Excellence”, “Divine X”
and “Era Decay”, displaying a constant ability to combine
sinister atmospheres with the most brutal compositions. The band
experienced a hiatus between 2005 and 2011, but returned to business
in 2012 with live performance co-headlining with Bethlehem.
Remastered by Stephane Buriez of the French band Loudblast, and
featuring two bonus tracks not on the original release “Les Sevices
de la Peste”, which appears to be a rough demo mix and “Corpus et
Anima”, a ferocious aural mauling, it may appear cynical to dissect
the reasons as to why this album has been released again in 2012, but
whatever the reasons may be, it is an opportunity for anyone new to
the genre or unfamiliar with the work of Seth, to acquaint themselves
with material which could be argued to have deserved more attention
on its initial release.
John Toolan
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