Pensees Nocturnes – Grand Guignol Orchestra

Pensees Nocturnes is, without a doubt, one of the most peculiar mixtures of genres and themes that I have come across all year (which, coming in at the end of said year, is saying something). The band itself can celebrate its ten-year anniversary this year, which they do in style – At the beginning of next year, mind you.

Their sixth full-length release (as well as sixth release overall) will be entitled Grand Guignol Orchestra and will be the logical extension of the one-man bands specific musical vision for this Avant-Garde Black Metal band.From what I have been able to gather, Pensees Nocturnes is a band that is always pushing their own boundaries (as well as those of their fans), which is no doubt why their celebratory album is Black Metal taken to the circus… More or less literally.

All rhythms, melodies, many of the instruments and (as far as I have been able to gather, since my French is atrocious) lyrics cater to the concept, making many of the tracks (like the one found below) sound like a clown act gone either very wrong or very right. But alas, as much could have been gained from gleaming at the cover art by many of you. What came as quite a surprise, to my heavily rigid mind at least, is how interesting the album gets, the more you listen to it.I will admit, I have never been much of an Avant-Garde fan, regardless of what genre you mix it up with, so after the first play-through I was skeptical to say the least – Luckily for me, the drive to work is a long one, so I got the chance to spin it again.

The record-label itself claims that there are no other act like it out there, and I am inclined to believe them – The happy, distorted melodies merging together to create a darkened circus experience is both unusual and appealing; Something that has drawn me in, that is for sure. Definitely a long ways different from their previous releases – However, it does feel like a natural transition, so I would say that it still caters to older fans. https://www.facebook.com/PNRecords/