Amesoeurs

Formed back in 2004, Amesoeurs are a collaboration between Neige (Alcest, Peste Noire) and Fursy Teyssier (Les Discrets), who combined their songwriting breadth to blend black metal with a dark take on new wave. Featuring Audrey Sylvain on vocals and Winterhalter on drums, the formula sounds risky but they make it stick without relying on sequencing, avoiding segregation between the two distinctions. Following up their Ruines Humaines EP from 2006, their self-titled debut comes just after the band decided to call it quits, adding to the frighteningly bleak and hopeless disposition. The traces of pop in the more new wave moments like "Video Girl" and the title track provide the unique nuances, while "Recueillement" does the best job of attempting to marry the two worlds and "Trouble (Éveils Infâmes)" is a mesmerizing interlude. But Amesoeurs holds its impetus in its harsher end; "I XIII V XIX XV V XXI XVIII XIX — IX XIX — IV V I IV" is brutal in its sonic attack and "Bonheur Amputé" is gut-wrenchingly blackened by Neige's caterwauls. Fascinatingly executed, Amesoeurs further black metal's scope while ruffling a few feathers along the way. It's unfortunate we won't hear how far they could have taken things.