---

Six years after the debut 'Tales, Ale & Fire' these Belgians have come up with their new record 'Chanson de la Croisade'. Many things changed; the production and mastering have improved and the humorous approach of the debut is gone. They improved the symphonic black-metal with folk and cinematic elements. The lyrics form a concept story and the songs are more adjusted to each other.

Vocalist Niklaas sounds a lot like Dimmu Borgir's Shagrath especially when using his black metal sounding voice. Besides that there are grunting parts and clean singing parts on this album. The more prominent use of the keyboards is the biggest step the band has taken. It gives their music more warmth and the songs sometimes sound like a soundtrack. The more epic approach is a big step forward and the separate heroic epic songs form a big unity. The use of choirs like in "Death & Submission" even amplifies the epic parts. If I have to compare the music of the band with colleagues, you have to think about Dimmu Borgir and our own Carach Angren. Especially the atmosphere you feel when listening to the complete album is familiar with that of Carach Angren.

My southern neighbours have made a very competitive epic atmospheric sounding symphonic black metal album. It includes a 28 page full colour booklet, with various art works in between and in the back grounds. The band believes in it, that's for certain, time for a label to sign this band?

---