Aorlhac – Á la Croisée des Vents

Arguably the place where it all began, Á la Croisée des Vents (French for ‘At The Crossroads Of The Winds’) is the first EP released by the band back in 2008, only preceeded by a Demo earlier the same year – However, due to the splendours of re-releases, the band saw it fit to include not only a couple of tracks from said earlier Demo onto this version, but even a track from a later Split album as well. Meaning that by combining all three re-releases that are to hit store shelves today, you would have a full discography of everything the band ever releases, barring perhaps a track or two, in a neat, stylish package. So far, so good – But how does it actually play?
Musically, Aorlhac is unsurprisingly at their roughest I have seen them on this record – Despite the cleaner mixing they have nonetheless endeavoured towards keeping it authentically gritty, especially where the vocals are concerned which are as delightfully hoarse and epic as ever. Honestly it should not surprise me anymore, but the older, dirtier and more emotionally laden the tracks become, the more they seem to appeal to me. And I have found my so far favourite track from Aorlhac on this release, namely ”Le Charroi de Nîmes” a powerfully epic ballad-inspired piece of medieval poetry through the modern medium of sheer, barely controlled aggression.

In many ways the band share several traits with their genre- and kinsmen Darkenhöld Ossurairé (the medieval Franche focus, the modern Black Metal riffs, drums and somewhat simple melodies), but this particular record cements their place at the top of the totem pole for me. And the added benefit of adding the three new (well – also old) tracks to the lineup on the record padding the runtime from nearly thirty minutes to almost fifty is another major plus in my book. Nine tracks sure to find their way into any Black Metal collection worth its salt.

However, once again like its two predecessors (or technically successors I assume), seeing as how this offers nothing new other than a new constellation and cleaner tracks, once again the rating has been knocked down a peg. But do not let it stop you from spinning it all day – I do not intend to.

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