Blessed in Sin
Melancholia
[A.I.M.]
The story of Blessed in Sin really isn't unique if compared to other similar ones in the history of black metal, but I suppose it's not as well known. Black Christ and Metatheos went to jail a few years ago for a number of things (French 'hate crimes' - nazism that is - being one of them I think), as well as a few other folks in the French scene, including Malkira from AMSG.
What was most spectacular was that they were charged with grave desecration, specifically the French media reported that they had removed a corpse from its grave, mutilated it, and then nailed a stake through its heart. It all really got out of hand - the police and even government agencies (including a new one set up exclusively to investigate 'Satanic Crimes' because of the events) reported the events, and seemingly cracked down on the French black metal scene. I remember reading a letter from Black Christ right before he went to jail (which included a copy of their last demo) and the police had basically destroyed/taken all of his personal belongings....
I was certain the band was long dead, but apparently everyone was released from prison and they recorded this album (with two rather young looking session members tagging along). The band, despite their impressive technical skills and enjoyable music has managed to stay in the underground for their entire careers. And how knows why? Their live demo tribute to Euronymous and Dead was fucking brilliant, and their final demo ('Odes Obscure') was utterly bleak sounding - so uniquely depressing.
"Melancholia", sadly, doesn't manage to capture the same feelings as those two other recordings. Maybe it's the sterile studio production, but the keyboard and epic riff heavy, over the top black metal feel of the earlier material I so worshiped is long gone. I've heard there's a limited edition of this with bonus demo tracks, so I'd attempt to find that, but basically I hope the band re-record and re-capture the past for their next release. This is uninteresting at best.
© 2000 brand
What was most spectacular was that they were charged with grave desecration, specifically the French media reported that they had removed a corpse from its grave, mutilated it, and then nailed a stake through its heart. It all really got out of hand - the police and even government agencies (including a new one set up exclusively to investigate 'Satanic Crimes' because of the events) reported the events, and seemingly cracked down on the French black metal scene. I remember reading a letter from Black Christ right before he went to jail (which included a copy of their last demo) and the police had basically destroyed/taken all of his personal belongings....
I was certain the band was long dead, but apparently everyone was released from prison and they recorded this album (with two rather young looking session members tagging along). The band, despite their impressive technical skills and enjoyable music has managed to stay in the underground for their entire careers. And how knows why? Their live demo tribute to Euronymous and Dead was fucking brilliant, and their final demo ('Odes Obscure') was utterly bleak sounding - so uniquely depressing.
"Melancholia", sadly, doesn't manage to capture the same feelings as those two other recordings. Maybe it's the sterile studio production, but the keyboard and epic riff heavy, over the top black metal feel of the earlier material I so worshiped is long gone. I've heard there's a limited edition of this with bonus demo tracks, so I'd attempt to find that, but basically I hope the band re-record and re-capture the past for their next release. This is uninteresting at best.
© 2000 brand