Prémices
(Gates Of Hell Records)
37:55min
It was about two years ago that French TENTATION released their first album “Le Berceau Des Dieux” that left me enthusiastically headbanging like the last nearly forty years just didn’t happen. The four piece from Occitanie released nothing less than the best Heavy Metal this millennium had to offer with that album. But even though it was the first full length album from TENTATION, “Le Berceau Des Dieux” was not the first stuff the band has released. Before the album, there was a self-titled EP in 2015 plus a 7” and a split album with their country mates IRON SLAUGHT, both unleashed in 2018. Of course all this stuff is not that easy to get nowadays, so Gates Of Hell Records, who also were responsible for “Le Berceau Des Dieux”, decided to release a compilation of all those tracks. Well, not all of them, to be honest, as two cover versions from H-BOMB and PONCE PILATE were left off. But all the original songs TENTATION released in their early years are featured on this compilation, fittingly titled “Prémices”. And it’s no real wonder that these recordings are hitting the same note as the album. This means, we have the finest classic Heavy Metal that could have been written and released in the glorious days about 1983 / 84. The compilation gives the listener a chance to follow up the progress TENTATION made over the years. And in addition one can find out that they were already a fine band in their early days. Especially the songs from the self-titled EP are really great, be it the opener ‘Bruixes’, the thrilling ‘L’Épreuve Du Sang’ or the rocking ‘Valhalla’. In the end, the catchy 7” b-side ‘Shaman’ ends a fine compilation very worthy. If you like old-fashioned Heavy Metal, “Prémices” is definitely a worthy record for you. Furthermore, the compilation is a nice way to bridge the time until TENTATION will release their eagerly-awaited second album. So don’t hesitate to visit www.facebook.com/tentationfrance or www.facebook.com/gatesofhellrecords
Thomas Meyer