In the 1990s, there dwelled a cabal of musicians in France called Les Légions Noires which specialized in basic, raw, occult black metal. Many of the LLN releases were superb, most however, were significantly less than appealing. One of the more exceptional records to be served out of this French cauldron is Mütiilation’s debut album Vampires of Black Imperial Blood.
Stylistically, this album is similar to Black Funeral in terms of both riffing approach and occult fascination. This release works on its ability to place the listener upon the fulcrum between terror and nightly beauty. Cavernous rivers of melody advance and collide in such a way that it plunges the listener through a gloomy current that fluctuates between those two sensations until they are indistinguishable.
Vampires of Black Imperial Blood is often eclipsed by the oppressively colossal Remains of a Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul that would come later. This makes sense because their sophomore effort does indeed leave a more lasting impression. However, to skip over this album would be a mistake as it nails down the grisly basis for the mastery to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwQFsBlWelQ
Tags: Black Metal, france, Les Légions Noires, mütiilation, review
Vampires was actually composed after Remains with the exception of the final two songs. The album adopts a simpler approach conceptually but there is progression in terms of technique. The comparison I like to give is between Enslaved – Vikingligr Veldi and Frost. The second is more accomplished in a musical sense but conceptually the first is superior.
My favorite Mutiilation album is Hail Satanas…, but this was an awesome album as well.
the world needs a “where are they now” article about LLN.
They’re at the French version of a Burger Jerk or Fishy Joe’s.
Are there any similar circles from different regions, like the LLN and Blazebirth Hall?
Yes my dear hipster, it is right here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48rz8udZBmQ
It should be noted most of the songs from the Remains… release were recorded before this album. 1993 if I recall.
I see this band as where all the romantic excess of the genre foamed to the top and spilled over, with none of the “metal” (or let’s face it, punk) parts visible any longer–maybe they represent black metal outliving itself or going on too long. Sort of a perversely fragrant stagnancy. But they were much better than what followed.
“I see this band as where all the romantic excess of the genre foamed to the top and spilled over…”
They are french after all, but even I can`t excuse the shoegaze abominations that came later.
This is the bands masterpiece.