Détresse are no frills black metal, hailing from Austria but with a Quebec input too. Raw, primal and raging, as all stripped back bm should be, for a trio they really do create a maelstrom of noise.
Whether that noise is any good is obviously in the ear of the beholder but it must be said that amongst the no nonsense approach, there are moments of hypnotic power as the riffs numb your mind. Dynamically, they know when to take a breather too although don’t expect any atmospherics here. This is icy cold black metal to chill the soul.
Whilst the album is serviceable it hardly breaks any boundaries and within all the torment and misery, there is little to make it stand out. ‘Schaefer ’ is a highlight which careens along at a fair pace, ‘Le Nuits Jaunes’ passes by in a blaze of ferocity, and ‘Peine Perdue’ proves worthy of being the best track here purely by knowing when to take a more measured approach.
Those yearning for some old style black metal will find a lot to like here, although there is little to make them stand out from the crowd. It’s a blast of icy rage for the coming winter months, and if it’s raw brutality you seek, you will embrace it.
