Cachot D’Effroi is a one-man raw and atmospheric Black Metal project from France, helmed by the enigmatic Carcasse Enchaînée, who’s also active in Duelliste. In its existence there have already been 5 releases.
‘Dans Le Cimetière Abandonné’ is his second full length release through Drakkar Productions on March 16, 2024 and the follow up to the self-titled debut from 2023. Drakkar signed the band prior to re-releasing both albums on their roster.
‘Depuis ma paillasse’ opens the album. A majestic song with a Scandinavian epic frosty bite to it, genre Nokturnal Mortum, Satanic Warmaster, Burzum, Blut Aus Nord. The album’s reasonable minimalism makes dissecting its components a challenge, but the focus is clearly on guitars, synths and vocals, which dominate the mix. The guitars are distant and foreboding, with a solid body and tone—not overly drenched in reverb, but still haunting. Vocals range from intense/feral to restrained, with a layer of distortion adding the necessary grit. ‘Lune gibbeuse’ is another stomper with grandiose swelling keyboards and a rabid raw voice entangled in despair, loneliness and abysmal anxiety.
‘Du sépulcre aux châtiments’ (do I hear some old Thy Serpent?) and ‘Sagesse du précipice’ are the finest raw Black Metal I’ve heard in a long time- hello there Celestia. ‘Contrées sataniques’ is downright brutal, ‘Ma sombre vision’ – every track lives up to its expectation. Although I think this album was not recorded at the Rosenkrantz studio, it bears the overall sound of some their recordings. You know what I am talking about. Not that it really matters. The programmed (?) drums are straightforward, alternating between blast beats and standard rhythms. I do hear a fat juicy bass drum. They don’t take center stage but serve their purpose in maintaining the album’s bleak pulse.
There’s nothing wrong with the production. Carcasse Enchaînée (and the engineer) know their job.
It’s solid French Black Metal with dungeon synths, kids. One of the many these days. If you’re drawn to the raw, atmospheric side of Black Metal—think Celestia, old Peste Noire, or early Forteresse—’Dans Le Cimetière Abandonné’ is a deeply immersive and terminally bleak experience worth exploring.
