Enterré Vivant – 悪罪 (Akuzaï)

Enterré Vivant will stand out to anyone that’s new to this band. The band’s name is French for buried alive and their latest release bears the Japanese title ‘悪罪 (Akuzaï)’, meaning evil crime according to Google Translate. Furthermore, Enterré Vivant consists of two Frenchmen of whom the singer relocated to Japan at some point, hence the Japanese influences. The band’s style is best described as Atmospheric Black Metal and its atmosphere is mostly focussed on evoking a very emotive feel. This is amplified by the artwork, which shows a mother breastfeeding her newborn shortly after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The tragedy behind this particular photograph is that the baby would soon die after this photo was taken. Thus, do not expect to find any joyful moments on ‘悪罪 (Akuzaï)’.

The driving force behind Enterré Vivant’s music is atmosphere. The soundscape on here consists mostly of mid-paced Black Metal with the addition of more unconventional (string)instruments, which could be violins or perhaps Japanese traditional instruments. Erroiak appears to be the sole instrumentalist in the band and it is clear he’s a mainly a guitarist. The multitude of different guitar riffs are the foundation of Enterré Vivant’s music. Despite the varied guitar playing, this albums doesn’t stray far from its Black Metal blueprint. The drums sound like they’re programmed, but in an enjoyable way. The occasional fills and cymbal thrills are very creative and elevate the musical value of ‘悪罪’. Sakrifiss’ vocals are very present on this album become a bit tedious at times. He employs different styles as well, like the usual Black Metal screaming, but also more gurgling or whispering effects. The overall tone of his is quite moany and that might not be for everyone. However, it does fit the picture that the band is trying to make.

The songs themselves are truly deserving of multiple listens. Each piece is beautifully layered and varied. Variation is, of course, a must in any song, but when overused it dangers from becoming messy. This is fortunately not the case here. Each song is focussed on one particular mood, even the lengthy ‘Jain’. As said, Azukaï is worth to revisit, but it also needs it. The variation within the songs are great, but each song doesn’t deviate as much from Enterré Vivants formula. All songs rely heavily on a drawn out melodic guitar lead, which can make the album feel monotonous upon first glance. However, Erroiak has a great ear for a good melody, just listen to ‘Don’yoku’ and you’ll get the point. By the way, that song alone makes this album worthwhile as it is an absolute highlight.

All in all, Enterré Vivant has delivered a strong album with 悪罪 (Akuzaï). It takes more than just one spin to fully comprehend what the band has put on display, but that’s true for all good music. Be aware of the (at times) moany vocals and overall sad mood, but once you’re passed that you’ve got a great album to enjoy.