An obscure French horde returns from the underworld with their sophomore opus, offering the listener eight tracks of primitive and soily sounds at the crossroads of Black, Doom and Sludge Metal.

Brought into being in 2017 by former members from The Great Old Ones, Spectrale, Omrade and Würm, Paris, France-based Blackened Sludge/Post-Metal entity Demande À La Poussière, or “Ask the Dust” from French (and also the title of American novelist John Fante’s best-seller book), aim at spreading darkness and weariness through a grey horizon beyond which no one hopes to see the sun shine again with their sophomore effort entitled Quiétude Hostile, or “hostile quietude”, offering the listener eight tracks of primitive and soily sounds with abrasive and bitter lyrics at the crossroads of Black, Doom and Sludge Metal. Comprised of Christophe Denhez on vocals and guitar, Neil Leveugle on bass and acoustic guitar, Edgard Chevallier on guitar and drone, and Vincent Baglin on drums, the band likes to label their music as a fusion of Apocalyptic Doom and Post-Black Metal, the perfect description to what’s found in their newborn spawn enfolded by a sinister artwork by Aurélie-Raidron. In other words, you’ll be overwhelmed by its thick, sludgy and groove-laden guitar lines, and by its vicious and intense vocals. It will annihilate your nervous system with an absolutely obsessive rhythmic section at the limit of paranoia.

Enraged screams from the pits of the underworld ignite the Stygian aria Léger Goût De Soufre (or “slight taste of sulfur”), exploding into disruptive Industrial Death Metal led by the crushing drums by Vincent while Christophe barks and roars like a rabid beast, whereas Morphème is more progressive and melodic thanks to the guitars by Christophe and Edgard, supported by the low-tuned bass by Neil throughout over six minutes of unrelenting Doom and Sludge Metal for our vulgar delectation. Then the bass jabs by Neil sound even more menacing in the Post-Black Metal extravaganza Éréthisme, where Vincent alternates between a sluggish drumming and infernal blast beats and fills, darkening the skies for all eternity; and the quartet keeps hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly in the title-track Quiétude Hostile, another brutal and dissident display of extreme music spearheaded by Christophe’s devilish gnarls while Vincent continues his path of devastation behind his drums.

In Perdu (“lost”), featuring guest contrabassist Jiu Gebenholtz, we’re treated to a slow and steady intro showcasing eerie drone elements in the background, evolving into an introspective and experimental piece for admirers of the genre, and if you think they’ll give us a single moment of peace you’re absolutely wrong, as Demande À La Poussière fire another demented Sludge and Doom Metal tune titled Bois De Justice (“wood of justice”), where all guitars sound as venomous and piercing as possible, not to mention Christophe’s hellish, deep growling, ending in sheer Black Metal splendor. After such furious display of extreme music, their second to last onrush of evil, death and fear comes in the form of L’oubli Du Contrasté (“forgetting the contrast”), blending the most demented elements of Sludge and Post-Black Metal, therefore generating the apocalyptic vibe that became the band’s trademark. Lastly, with guest Dima Dudko (White Ward) on saxophone, the band delivers their most experimental tune to date titled Expiravit, offering us all over nine minutes of creepy, atmospheric sounds, visceral bass punches by Neil and headbanging beats by Vincent that combined will put you in a trance until the very last second.

If you think you have what it takes to face all the darkness, melancholy, insanity and hostility found in the new album by Demande À La Poussière, you can take a full listen at the album s many times as you want on Spotify, but of course I highly recommend you purchase a copy of it and show your true support to the underground by clicking HERE. Also, don’t forget to give those French metallers a shout on Facebook, as I’m sure they would love to hear from you all your comments about their sick creations. Fans of bands the likes of Neurosis, Mayhem, Cult Of Luna and Akhlys, among many others, will surely have a very good time listening to each and every track from Quiétude Hostile, while fans of pitch black darkness will finally enjoy the perfect soundtrack of this slow depression that walks alongside us every day, even though we keep a smile on our faces.

Best moments of the album: Morphème, Quiétude Hostile and Bois De Justice.

Worst moments of the album: Perdu.

Released in 2021 My Kingdom Music

Track listing
1. Léger Goût De Soufre 5:14
2. Morphème 6:11
3. Éréthisme 5:43
4. Quiétude Hostile 5:12
5. Perdu 7:21
6. Bois De Justice 6:13
7. L’oubli Du Contrasté 6:22
8. Expiravit 9:17

Band members
Christophe Denhez – vocals, guitar
Neil Leveugle – bass, acoustic guitar
Edgard Chevallier – guitar, drone
Vincent Baglin – drums

Guest musicians
Dima Dudko – saxophone on “Expiravit”
Jiu Gebenholtz – contrabass on “Perdu”