Thursday 28th March 2024,
The Black Planet

PÉNITENCE ONIRIQUE – V​.​I​.​T​.​R​.​I​.​O​.​L

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Pénitence Onirique would perhaps be one of the strongest proposals (after the release of The Great Old Ones or Cult of Erinyes) from LADLO for the coming times and, judging by the promotion, that would be the intention, but honestly and despite the certain initial hype attempt to involve the French duo, the attempt to get another name on the front line may be a bit short of expected.

Let’s break it down: although the sonority which is explored here contains all the ingredients and condiments in the right place, it does not go much beyond what is constantly heard in the current flood of albums that get released weekly within this style and that wander a little lost in waves ranging from the Canadian movement to a certain USBM trend, a bit more “foresty”, let’s say.
The difference here is the explored theme that, in addition to vocalizations in French, tries to get into a bit of a slight occultism that does not go beyond, nor does it bring anything new to what the band creates. What we feel is more a sense of disillusionment and not of purification as the (dangerous) title promises us to believe initially, even with the short reveries here and there in the middle or the passages commonly associated with some Post Black Metal, the result does not leave a big mark and sounds innocuous.
There are, of course, good moments throughout the album such as “VITRIOL” or “Carapace de fantasme vide” that run away a little from what the band has offered so far (at an instrumental level) but, frankly, what is lacking in this album is a bit more diversity and ability to make us cling to what comes out of speakers. Specially when this French duo can create long songs and, as you know, in this field you must know how to play in the right spots otherwise monotony can become a reality.
In short, overall there are good ideas, but the result might fall short to a more demanding listener.

5/10

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