When you think of France, you can do some word association such as Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Tour de France, French Baguettes and grindcore. Wait, what? That’s right you didn’t misread that last one, grindcore.
France has become one of the biggest producers of top-notch noise in the last decade, but not that it was too obvious of course. Grindcore acts like Chiens, Warfuck, Blockheads and now Nolentia!
Nolentia is a 3-piece grindcore band from Toulouse and was formed in 2007 as a very open minded grindcore act, not restrained by the genre. They produce awesome grindcore in manageable bursts, however, there are other genres that influence the French grinders such as hardcore, death metal, crust and some might say sludge influences.
The band released their first record in 2009 titled “…One Loud Noise and It’s Gone…”, which finally has a successor in the form of “May the Hand that Holds the Match that Will Set This World on Fire Be Blessed Above All” this year.
The tracks aren’t typically short, as one would expect from a grindcore record. The songs seem to have a bit more body to it, which hints at the other various influences the band draws inspiration from. It isn’t all out blasting intensity from the get go either, it comes in busts, but not all of the tracks, which gives it a lot of variety.
The vocal work also ranges between the guitarist Ghis and bassist Raf. It alternates between a high-pitched screech and a more death metal bellowing grumble, which is absolutely fantastic. Typically the latter is accompanied by the high-pitched screeching.
The riffs and drumming is extremely intense, but they tend to slow it down with some sludgy breakdowns, which makes this record a winner by all accounts. The record consists of 17 bone-crushing tracks that will blow you away from start to finish. If you’re familiar with grindcore, the record doesn’t have that rushed feel to it that usually gets the adrenaline pumping, but it is thoroughly enjoyable, notably the sludgy/hardcore style breakdowns.
Do you like extreme music with a twist? Get Nolentia’s “May the Hand…” album and let the obliteration of your sense commence!
If you’re a fan of band such as Full of Hell, Swinelord and Fistula, this record is right up your alley!
May the Hand… is released on February 4th through Kaotoxin Records.
Review by Berns von Bernington.
