Jo Riou’s artwork for Pelegrin’s new album, The Curse of Nephtar, says it all. The image captures the story of a powerful black orb representing fossil fuels and the so-called resource curse that comes with them. There’s a definite nod to the Métal Hurlant/Heavy Metal artwork you would have picked up in the late ’70s and early ’80s, bringing to mind the imaginative worlds of Moebius, Philippe Druillet, and Philippe Caza. Not to mention illustrator Arik Roper, known for his distinctive artwork for the Rise Above Records label. It’s the perfect visual introduction to the strange and unsettling world Pelegrin have created.
This is actually my first time delving into the world of French heavy-psych outfit Pelegrin, whose previous albums include Al-Mahruqa (2019) and Ways of Avicenna (2023). The band combines psychedelic, doomy, and progressive elements with mind-bending excursions that send shivers down your spine. With The Curse of Nephtar, you can feel a ticking time bomb waiting to erupt at any second. From start to finish, this Ripple Music release takes you on a journey through a world where nothing is quite what it seems.
Consisting of François Roze on guitar and vocals, Jason Recoing on bass, and Antoine Ebel on drums and percussion, Pelegrin deliver a record that will make you want to dig out your old Heavy Metal comics or revisit the 1981 animated film. The album tackle’s themes that remain relevant today, including the Middle East, oil-rich power brokers, and the dangerous consequences of a world driven by resources, greed, and control.
The trio also brings in a handful of additional contributors, including bassist Nacim Virieux, vocalist Halima Joy, spoken-word performer Lizon Tijus, and sound-effects contributor Mathieu Houeix. Their contributions help Pelegrin bring this imaginative story to life, almost like an adult animated film unfolding through music. It’s a strange, cinematic experience that feels as though it belongs in its own parallel universe.
Opening track ‘Eons’ introduces us to Pelegrin’s universe, setting the scene for a world gone wrong. The music drifts across a deserted landscape, with eerie, Floydian guitar textures that evoke the band’s more atmospheric side before the track takes off like a rocket.
Rather than laying everything out at once, Pelegrin gradually builds the tension, drawing you in with powerful riffs, metallic bass lines, and pounding drum patterns. It’s like watching the pages of a graphic novel come alive, with one mind-bending image following another until your jaw drops in a nanosecond.
The Middle Eastern vocal introduction to ‘In the Company of Stars’ transports us into the Egyptian desert, where the heat is rising and the pyramids loom in the distance. There’s a distinct sound between Canada-based Black Mountain and German’s own Agitation Free vibe running through the track, paying tribute to the krautrock band, while touches of Amon Düül II emerge along the way.
These influences add a spiritual dimension to the journey. Sure, the Black Sabbath nods are there, but this is about more than the Brummie legends. Sabbath may be part of Pelegrin’s musical vocabulary, but the band draws from a much wider range of sounds to create something distinctly its own.
‘Drawn to Nephtar’ will make your skin crawl with its pounding, almost tribal drum patterns and hypnotic, occult-tinged rhythms. The track captures the feeling of a planet on the brink of disaster, with the alarm bells threatening to sound at any moment.
From there, ‘The Price to Pay’ takes us into the war room of an emperor whose city is already on the verge of collapse. He remains indifferent to the suffering of his people, even as they prepare to rise against him and establish a new order. As his grip on power begins to slip, the whole situation spirals toward a breaking point.
The guitars and drums mirror the emperor’s unraveling world, while the growing tension suggests that the townsfolk are ready to storm his kingdom and bring his reign to an end. They want their freedom and the chance to live on their own terms, but at what cost?
Pelegrin leaves us with the uncomfortable question of whether liberation can come without another price to pay. It’s a fitting reflection of the album’s wider themes, where power, greed, and the promise of prosperity can lead to consequences nobody can escape.
The galloping bass introduction to ‘Sun and Blood’ drops us straight into the scorching desert sun. There’s a flamenco-like guitar strum that brings to mind Pete Townshend’s more percussive approach, along with the Spanish flair of ‘Malagueña’. The arrangement feels like a dance of death, keeping you balanced on a dangerous tightrope as the music unfolds.
The imagery might take your mind from the desert to the streets of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame, but don’t get too comfortable. One wrong step, and you could be heading straight toward your doom.
Taking on Pelegrin’s universe has been a real challenge for me, and The Curse of Nephtar certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But what this trio has accomplished is worth the trip. They bring the spirit of Heavy Metal to life through a combination of psychedelic rock, doom, progressive passages, and cinematic storytelling, with the atmosphere of that 1981 animated film running through the experience.
And we’re not talking about DC, Marvel, or another superhero blockbuster. This is something much stranger: an underground animated epic imagined through music, complete with its own mythology, unsettling characters, and a parallel universe that draws you further in with every track. The Curse of Nephtar is one hell of a trip, and Pelegrin invite you to take the ride. Just be prepared for what might be waiting on the other side.
