Hailing from France, the debut from Deluge is cut from the came blackened crust/post hardcore cloth as country mates Celeste as well as label and county mates Paramnesia and Regarde Les Hommes Tomber as the likes of Downfall of Gaia. So that’s to say crusty riffs delivered with blackened tremelo intensity, hardcore rasps, and moments of post rock introspection.

However, while fitting neatly into the above pigeonhole, Deluge manage to make is soooo good as the deluge of black metal riffs are delivered with Deafheaven like scope with searing melody and harmony, while still being blisteringly intense. Yeah, Deluge is a fitting name. Not just because of the overwhelming quantity of riffs, but the album with its rainy/stormy interludes and segues has a ‘wet’ overarching theme that makes the album come across with a central thematic delivery above and beyond being fantastic.

“Avalanche ” starts the album with a bang right out of the gate, no intro or acoustic fade in, just a fucking furious blast beat. “Appât” shows the slight Deafheaven-isms with a sweet melodic, but searing riff, but the vocals are far less screechy being a burly roar, making things even more intense. it also has a nice church/monk chant bridge in the middle showing a little creativity and diversity amid the maelstrom. ” Mélas | Khōlé” initially hints a a respite, but its start and finish do have some more delicate refrains sandwiching the big, razor sharp blasts.

By “Naufrage” the formula is clear but does not lessen the effectiveness; Seething, melodic, blackened crust riffs, a few bars of introspective calm and then and another explosion of intensity. Not always in that order as the 9 minute “Klarträumer” shows with more of a focus of the  calm before the storm aspect of the sound. And the calm before the storm/eye of the storm cliche  is in full force for the music not just the album’s overarching theme. But, it’s still as intense as anything in the genre, but still glossed with enough passion to give it some depth, not just a sheer assault of blasts.

Personally, this is getting more airtime than the new Deafheaven, even with a more aggressive attack on New Bermuda,  and might be one of my favorite albums of the year so far.

[Visit the band's website]

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