MALEPESTE is a band I had no remote idea about. I must admit that initially I felt a bit confused when I started listening to them, because I couldn’t identify what they sounded like. So I just let it run. Right away, the vocalist’s style caught my attention, somewhat “atypical” for the accustomed ears of followers of the style, used to the screams and sharp, shrill voices of, for sure, a high percentage of Black Metal bands. Here, the voice makes an emphasis on the melodic part, imbued with agony. And well, I read a bit about them: a Black Metal band from France (from Lyon) that makes music that is somewhat atmospheric, quite a lot, I would say, and very, very focused on (perhaps) highlighting the vocal part. Or at least that’s what I felt. The voice predominates here. And perhaps it’s because it might be the band’s most outstanding characteristic. I think it highlights that intention of “creation from nothing” (like the album’s name) , ejecting a widely philosophical but forceful concept. You just have to look at the song titles. They all maintain that relationship with what (I assume) is the album’s theme. Since I’m a bit more into other styles, I don’t know what other bands to relate MALEPESTE’s sound to. I read that their members have been part of other bands, which takes for granted that we are talking about experienced musicians configuring a profound band here. You could say that some songs sound more like “typical” Black Metal than others, but in general, the album offers a quite dark, agonizing and definitely Black Metal perspective. I really liked songs like ‘Quaestionis’, ‘Acceptio’ and ‘Relapsus’ (that last one closes the album). In my opinion, they are the songs that best capture the idea of what I’ve wanted to say regarding this new, (for me) but very interesting French band. Whoever wants to leave the traditional environments of the more “typical” Black Metal for a moment, and I insist on that word, and seeks to immerse in a journey to nothingness, MALEPESTE is an excellent option. I ended up greatly appreciating what they did on this album. It’s always good to seek new sounds, horizons (within the limits of Metal) but new, finally. Listen to MALEPESTE! More information here: www.facebook.com/malepeste, www.facebook.com/ladloproductions