Columnist Cori Westbrook explores the latest from Montreal’s mysterious extreme metal trio.
Bandcamp Roulette is a feature where, every week, we will buy a randomly chosen album from an underground band and tell you all about it! Follow us on Instagram to help us choose next week’s album!
Get ready to turn out all the lights and get lost in the chill and anguish of Miserere Luminis. This band features members of Gris and Sombres Forêts, and this is their sophomore collaboration thirteen years in the making. Layered, epic, and strikingly beautiful, Miserere Luminis will grip your soul and drag you through their hellish wonderland.
Opening with sombre piano and haunting synth notes, Ordalie is an adventurous album that explores the most wrenching of human emotions. The build throughout opening track “Noir fauve” is nothing short of sublime as it travels from soft and sombre to scathing, but soaring as the production builds upon itself, taking its time to build a wall of sound brick by brick and note by note.
As “Le sang des reves” opens, it becomes apparent that this is a masterclass in ebb and flow. Another track that builds piece by piece, many elements come together to from striking and thunderous black metal thunder to moments of calm. “La felure des anges” is exceptionally tortured, with the vocals bringing forth so much pain.
Beautiful folky acoustic instrumentation surfaces throughout the album, which create an interesting juxtaposition with the often jarring vocals, surrounded by weird and warped sounds. The tempo is often hypnotic while the tone bleeds sorrow and mourning throughout.
Ordalie is a haunting and rich album. A tapestry of sound and despair, full of tearful ambiance, and one that commands multiple listens. Get your copy HERE.
Stay in the know – join Knotfest for relevant news, exclusive content, interviews, and more.
Upgrade to Knotfest Premium for early ticket access to the biggest shows, in studio footage from Slipknot, exclusive performances, 10% off merch and much more!
Sign up for the Knotfest Email List for exclusive access to news, tours, interviews, pre-sale codes, giveaways and more.