There are bands that need very little time to echo in our heads all day long. That is exactly what happened to me with this EP by the French LES BÂTARDS DU ROI. A band that plays melodic, nostalgic and deep Black Metal. And being naturally nostalgic myself, I fall head over heels for this kind of sound. LES BÂTARDS DU ROI is a relatively new band. They released their first single on January 22, 2024 and ever since, they have been around the Black Metal tragedies blowing on the horizon, a bit in the vein of IMMORTAL, if you ask me. And no, LES BÂTARDS DU ROI does not sound like IMMORTAL, but I was reminded of them by this reference. LES BÂTARDS DU ROI is a sea of dark, heavy lava, filled with the scent of death that arrives once joy ends. Because it does end at some point, and sometimes it never returns. And that happens with the atmosphere of ‘Ici Meurt Ma Joie’, which carries that very title. In spite of everything, ‘Ici Meurt Ma Joie’ comes loaded with that thick, cold air of death, spitting rage and sorrow. I like the interlude. It reminds me of the intro to that historic track ‘A Fine Day To Die’ by BATHORY. Perhaps coinciding in the intention of summoning death in the middle of desolation. Then comes ‘Et La Nuit S’éternise’, a track that seeks to sustain that trance in the middle of a night that (as the song says) becomes eternal, upholding that same energy present across the EP’s three tracks. Moving back and forth from one place to another. And the EP closes with ‘Où Pourrit La Lumière’, perhaps the most melancholic and somber track of the three. A song that must be listened to over and over again to capture its nature. Here lies an emotional devastation that rots the light in its wake. And this EP possesses that vibe of poetry pushed to the extreme. And that is why I like it. Not everything is perfect. I do not really like the lead vocals, but I believe the constant interplay of voices throughout the EP fulfills that purpose of confronting one nature with the other, consistently leaning toward pain. This is a short journey, barely over 13 minutes long, yet strong enough to stay in the atmosphere. More information here: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564480907615, www.facebook.com/ladloproductions