Band: Zéro Absolu
Album: La Saignée
Genre: Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal
Country: France
Label: AOP Records
Released: Jan 31, 2025
Introduction
2025 is off to a cracking start with La Saignée.
Starting in the early 2010s (under the previous name Glaciacion), the French duo Zéro Absolu has been honing their unique take on black metal, solidifying their position as a truly one-of-a-kind band in the modern era. Their latest release, La Saignée, features two expansive tracks, each filled with spacious, inimitable sounds.
La Saignée
Tracklist:
- La Saignée
- Le Temps Détruit
Rumination
After multiple listens, what stands out the most to me about this album is how genuinely interesting it is, yet also thoroughly listenable. In just 34 minutes, the album is filled with swirling synths, expansive guitar work, and assaulting drums. There are odd, unpredictable sections that go in different directions, effectively messing with the listener’s expectations. The album is brimming with captivating textures.
A great example of this comes at the midway point, where you naturally expect the music to take one direction, but instead, Zéro Absolu leads it somewhere entirely different. The track becomes fragmented and glitchy before unfolding into a beautiful synth melody accompanied by a spoken word section.
What’s particularly impressive is that the release never lets experimentation overshadow solid songwriting. The band remains deeply rooted in that classic, evil-sounding French black metal.
The way the album flows seamlessly from one track to the next—essentially creating a continuous long-form experience—is fantastic. The second track, La Temps Detruit Tout, really brings the release home, building from an angular, post-rock-inspired intro (complete with choir-like synth stabs) into a final, blackened crescendo.
Conclusion
Like Seth or Eternal Majesty, French bands seem to have a distinct identity in their approach to black metal. It’s something deeply ingrained in the sound of all of these bands, even though each one is (likely) vastly different. Zéro Absolu is no exception, and the way they craft their music is truly impressive in its execution.
BMZ rating: 8 – Good: A solid and enjoyable album overall. It boasts strong songwriting and performance quality, delivering a cohesive and satisfying listen.
Support Zéro Absolu here: https://artofpropaganda.bandcamp.com/album/la-saign-e
Your thoughts on Zéro Absolu
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