NIL NOVO SUB SOLE

The new album by this French band is their 1st for the French label Unicorn Records after three self-released ones. I must say that it's a real pleasure to review this album because without any huge expectations (this was the 1st album I heard from this band) it has revealed to me to be a true masterpiece. Even though the album Quarante Jours Sur Le Sinai was already considered a masterpiece by some, it is this album that really hits the bull's eye. Everything in this album is better and I feel that the band managed to take a huge step after the already excellent predecessor album. For a lover of this kind of prog there isn't really much more that could be wished. This group is playing really unique and haunting prog. Sure they have influences from many bands, like basically all bands have, but still they manage sound original. Their style is very dark (often typical for French bands) and evokes the mysticism of bands like Arachnoid. At times they also remind me of a less bombastic Anglagard and in these moments it is like the dreamy version of this Swedish band. However, this band is not exactly similar to that band and actually are quite far from that! The music is mostly instrumental but the vocals are still an important part of the music. This is also the 1st album where the female singer Roselyne Berthet is a permanent member of the band. The vocals are in French and I'm very happy that they didn't ruin it with English vocals (all prog bands should stick to their native language!).

The album opens with "Le Gardien", a 20-minute wonderful track with multiple parts. It already shows that this band manages to develop these kinds of epics fantastically. The 2nd track "Linceul" is almost completely carried with Berthet's haunting vocals and "whispers in the dark". It's very dark and I find it beautiful. The 3rd track "Deregeneration" is an instrumental (except for some haunting whispers) with some simply breathtaking moments and is the other highlight with the opening song. What an astounding track! It instantly became one of my favourite tracks of all time! Fourth track "198", also an instrumental, and a great one it is as well. After that the album continues with the excellent "Abandon" before ending with the track "Derives".

Does this album deserve a masterpiece status? It is especially easy to argue about this issue when it concerns the newer bands because most new great bands seem to carry the burden of the seventies scene. Indeed, the roots of this band are clearly in the seventies but they do spice the music with some modern influences as well. In today's world of progressive music I find this album truly essential.

Conclusion: Even though there has been many excellent prog releases in the last five years from many parts of the world, there are only a few, if any, other albums from this recent period of time that I'm willing to give full 5 stars. A masterpiece.