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Album Review – Malebeste / Monestherou (2026)

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A new Black Metal entity arises from the pits of France with their scorching debut, deeply rooted in their land and history, exploring themes inspired by the legends of Charente, Vendée, and surrounding regions.

Formed in 2024 in the small town of Angoulême, located in Western France, Malebeste are a five-piece Black Metal band deeply rooted in their land and history, exploring themes inspired by the legends of Charente, Vendée, and surrounding regions, while drawing inspiration from both the French and Swedish Black Metal scenes. Recorded and mixed by Bastien Cabirol at Akroma Studio, and mastered by French musician Septev (of bands like Hrad, Outland Hill and Stellar Forest), Monestherou is the striking debut by such a promising horde, offering a blend of melodic and powerful Black Metal driven by sharp riffs and percussive drumming with galloping and varied patterns, while its lyrics, all in French, are carried by atmospheres that are by turns dark and luminous, blending medieval and modern sounds.

Crafted by guest musician Septev, Aigre Vinasse et Chaude Populace, or “sour wine and a hot-tempered populace,” is an eerie intro to the band’s venomous realm in Hautefaye 1870 (inspired by a criminal incident that took place on August 16, 1870, during a fair in the village of Hautefaye in the Dordogne region, France, when Alain de Monéys, a young local nobleman, was beaten, tortured and finally burned alive by the crowd), where their unstoppable riffs and Black Metal blast beats will crush your skull in a demented manner, sounding simply infernal from start to finish. Their Black Metal attack goes on in full force in Chasse Gallery, with their devilish vociferations matching perfectly with all background Stygian sounds; whereas Palefroi du Diable, or “the devil’s steed,” offers to our putrid ears six minutes of absolute darkness and doom, leaning towards pure Blackened Doom Metal without forgetting their core ferocity. And Milouziena (a female spirit of fresh water) is a more direct Black Metal extravaganza by those uncanny creatures from the depths of France, with their guitars transpiring sulfur and hatred.

Such an evil horde continues to pound our heads and consume our souls mercilessly in Le Puits d’Enfer, or “hell’s well,” with its rebellious Punk Rock-infused riffage sounding stunning. The title-track Monestherou might be slower than its predecessors due to its Doom Metal vibe, but it’s still venomous and obscure, spearheaded by the demonic vocals by their devilish frontman, followed by Flamme Noir de l’Espoir, or “black flame of hope”, and such a poetic name would certainly offer us all a vicious Black Metal attack by the band, resulting in one of the most detailed songs of the album with its hammering drums sounding phenomenal. Finally, Nocturne (Medley Acoustique) could have been positioned before the previous song as an intro to it, as there’s not too much to say about this acoustic and instrumental tune.

In the end, Malebeste prove they’re among us to stay based no the high quality of the Black Metal found in their killer debut Monestherou, leaving the gates of the underworld open for another slab of sheer Black Metal magic by those talented French musicians. If you’re curious to know more about this up-and-coming extreme music ensemble from France, you can find them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course, you can show them your utmost support by purchasing a copy of their album from their own BandCamp, as well as from Antiq’s BandCamp or webstore (as a digipak or an LP). It’s always a true pleasure exploring the French Black Metal landscape, and Monestherou is an invitation for us all metalheads to dive deep into the Stygian world ruled by Malebeste within such an exciting genre.

Best moments of the album: Hautefaye 1870, Milouziena and Flamme Noir de l’Espoir.

Worst moments of the album: Nocturne (Medley Acoustique).

Released in 2026 Antiq

Track listing
1. Aigre Vinasse et Chaude Populace 1:32
2. Hautefaye 1870 5:27
3. Chasse Gallery 5:10
4. Palefroi du Diable 6:07
5. Milouziena 5:01
6. Le Puits d’Enfer 4:38
7. Monestherou 4:59
8. Flamme Noir de l’Espoir 6:02
9. Nocturne (Medley Acoustique) 3:21

Band members
*Information not available*

Guest musician
Septev – everything on “Aigre Vinasse et Chaude Populace”

Album Review – Belnejoum / Dark Tales of Zarathustra (2025)

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A newborn Symphonic Black Metal beast will tell the story of Zarathustra’s corruption and insanity in its debut opus, utilizing symphonic elements combined with oriental and traditional classical instruments.

A Symphonic Black Metal project founded by Egyptian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mohamed Baligh “Aswad”, who’s currently located in the United States, utilizing symphonic elements combined with oriental instruments like the naey and traditional classical instruments such as the violin and cello, Belnejoum is unleashing upon humanity its debut album, entitled Dark Tales of Zarathustra. Mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordstrom at Studio Fredman, and featuring an array of more-than-special musicians the likes of Fabio Bartoletti (Fleshgod Apocalypse) and Ehab Sami on the guitars, Rich Gray (Annihilator) on bass, Francesco Ferrini (Fleshgod Apocalypse) on all orchestral arrangements, George Kollias (Nile) on drums, and Tamara Jokic on Melisma vocals, as well as guest musicians Hany El-Badry on the naey, Mohamed Medhat on the violin, tenor Christian Correra on vocals, and Jeremy Garbarg on the cello, Dark Tales of Zarathustra tells the story of Zarathustra’s corruption and insanity, his journey to the underworld on the back of a demon named Aeshma, the witnessing of the horrors of Hell, and his suicide as his final act, as he no longer sees a purpose for living.

The opening track Prophet of Desolation couldn’t have sounded more atmospheric, cryptic, doomed and multi-layered, with George sounding inhumane on drums while Aswad roars deeply in the name of Black Metal. Not only that, all background orchestrations elevate the song’s epicness to a whole new level. The Day Zarathustra Turned Dark is more like an interlude than a song per se, darkening the skies before we face Tower of Silence, where the guitars by Fabio and Ehab match perfectly with the orchestral sounds crafted by Francesco; whereas the crying violin by Mohamed will penetrate deep inside your soul in On Aeshma’s Wings, a ruthless, imposing Black Metal aria where George once again steals the show with his fulminating beats and fills.

Guest Jeremy Garbarg recorded Elegie using a rare cello made by Rugieri in Cremona, Italy in 1695, resulting in a somber tune where Tamara’s minimalist vocals sound absolutely enfolding, flowing into the Symphonic Black Metal beast In Their Darkest Aquarium, with once again their orchestrations, riffs and drums generating a massive wall of sounds tailored for lovers of the genre. Then the melancholic piano by Aswad returns in As She Drowns, warming us up for Upon the Mortal Blight, a ten-minute Black Metal creature where their Cradle of Filth and Fleshgod Apocalypse vein pulses harder than ever, all boosted by another amazing vocal performance by Aswad. The Flames, the Prophet, the Tears is another piano-infused composition by Aswad, soothing our souls and preparing us all for the outro Zarathustra’s Last Requiem, a climatic track overflowing classic sounds, sealing the fate of Zarathustra.

Totaling 52 minutes across ten tracks, Dark Tales of Zarathustra is a stunning musical voyage led by Aswad that will surely take the name of Belnejoum to new heights, and if you want to know more about such an amazing project made in the United States but with pure Egyptian blood you can find all details about it on Facebook and on Instagram, stream its amazing debut on Spotify pretty soon, and above all that, purchase the album from Antiq’s BandCamp or webstore. Zarathustra’s descent into madness couldn’t have been better depicted than through the top-of-the-line Symphonic Black Metal by Belnejoum, offering several layers and nuances that definitely make the whole story even more compelling, and may Aswad and his extreme music beast keep delivering amazing albums like Dark Tales of Zarathustra to us all in the coming years, always sounding unique while remaining loyal to the foundations of Black Metal.

Best moments of the album: Prophet of Desolation, On Aeshma’s Wings and Upon the Mortal Blight.

Worst moments of the album: The Day Zarathustra Turned Dark.

Released in 2025 Antiq

Track listing
1. Prophet of Desolation 10:14
2. The Day Zarathustra Turned Dark 2:49
3. Tower of Silence 5:03
4. On Aeshma’s Wings 5:43
5. Elegie 3:39
6. In Their Darkest Aquarium 6:17
7. As She Drowns 3:17
8. Upon the Mortal Blight 10:28
9. The Flames, the Prophet, the Tears 2:01
10. Zarathustra’s Last Requiem 2:36

Band members
Mohamed Baligh “Aswad” – vocals, piano
Fabio Bartoletti – guitars
Ehab Sami – guitars
Rich Gray – bass
Francesco Ferrini – orchestral arrangements
George Kollias – drums
Tamara Jokic – Melisma vocals

Guest musicians
Hany El-Badry – naey
Mohamed Medhat – violin
Christian Correra – tenor
Jeremy Garbarg – cello