Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 01:27 PM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: France
Label: Independent
Year: 2015
This magnificent change of course of the Black Metal genre, i.e. the turn to more Experimental / Atmospheric compositions, is something I’m grateful for, as the intimacy provided by the bands of this style is immense. This time, Cepheide is the band that has come to rocket our spirits to space.
Cepheide is an Atmospheric Black Metal act from France, founded in the fall of 2013. Their first piece of work came out as a demo (entitled “De Silence et de Suie”) in 2014, which was considered a success by the press and the devotees of the genre. Cepheide are now back with their first EP “Respire”. “Respire” is consisted of two tracks with a total runtime of 36 minutes. If the duration of the tracks strikes you as weird, just consider the fact that, when you’re trying to create an evocative environment for your music to shine, then the conventional track duration rules do not apply.
“Respire” is a concept album that could be easily be used as a soundtrack of a post – apocalyptic film, where scenes of a dying Earth and the destruction of mankind would be the main theme. Cepheide’s music is very special, even though many may think that we’re talking about a band that’s all the same with all those groups that sprung from the underground scene of this music style. Their music urges you to succumb to your fears, with its ambient yet aggressively soul – ripping structures. There is a nice balance between the slow paced / melancholic / grievous rhythms and the faster / regenerating / climaxing ones. The thrilling effect the compositions have is intensified by the cosmic samples, the screams from beyond the twilight zone and the amazing kicks in the drums. I really liked the fact that the synths used resemble the sound of the violin, especially near the end of the second track of the record, where as the deep – spaced drones (especially in the beginning of the second track). There are no overlaps between the instruments and the sound is clear, so production – wise, “Respire” is a decent record.
Should you’re looking for darkness and insanity while howling at the moon, then “Respire” seals the deal! Give it a shot!
4,5/6
