Album Review: Shezmu – À Travers Les Lambeaux
Reviewed by Robbie Maguire
Let’s be clear from the very start ‘À Travers les Lambeaux’ is a heavy, heavy album with the instant weight and intensity of the collective sound gut punching you from the very first colossal note. This is gnarly, nasty and downright uncomfortable. Shezmu literally drag you kicking and fighting until submission to their hybrid of death metal and blackened grind core is all you can do. Deep guttural gruff growls sit centre whilst the seismic wall of noise threatens to break away from the traditional rhythm of a song and into something altogether different. There is something very primal that makes for an addictive listen. This is nothing new, few may dare to scale these heights of heaviness, but its intensity is its biggest appeal.
A criminally short guitar solo in ‘Ceremonie Magique pour la Bataille de Megiddo’ (track 2) is nearly lost in the murky mix. Disappointing as what you can make of it, its soaring qualities are great and it adds much needed variety to the fairly repetitive but enjoyable formula. The heaviest "death n’ roll" you’re likely to hear in a long time rears its greasy head on the next song ‘Ode A Hathor’. Harrowing, desperate echoed screams pierce the muddy sound and add an unnerving menace. The battering ram that is pummelling your brain continues with little variation until a needed respite from the sonic barrage comes in the form of ‘Interlude La Rage’ (track 4). Unexpected that’s for sure this hypnotic acoustic instrumental is thankfully graced with cleaner production allowing the trance like flamenco-esque warmth to come to the fore. As unnerving as it is welcome it’s a beautifully unusual song amongst the bluster and heft of the previous and forthcoming songs.
It's back to the earth shattering barrage again as classic Death metal riffing and the blanket of noise make way for an insanely catchy and head nodding change of pace in ‘Les Secrets des Ziggourats’. D-beat influences return and the communion of the evil death metal and punky swagger are a joy to hear. The lack of more clear audible guitar solos feels a shame as when they do cut through they inject a quick stab of venomous variety. Who is to say what this may sound like with a crisper, cleaner production? Well the achieved character that they have created would be lost with a sharper production. The ability to create said character and atmosphere whilst retaining the monstrous extremity should be applauded. So it’s the job of ‘Les Talonis’ to close this beast of an album. Slow doomy slabs of guitar sit amongst the blastbeats as this song steamrolls on. The interesting changes in rhythm are exciting to hear as the speed and tempo alter dramatically. Hellish screams again giving depth and a truly wicked feel. A dark ambient soundscape finally closes this chilling tortuous soundtrack of an album.
They say your surroundings can have an impact on your views, thoughts and the way you perceive things. If this is the case then the foreboding, chilling and darkest parts of Montreal have clearly rubbed off on Shezmu. Rage, sorrow and madness are the feelings that run through the majority of this album. For the most part it’s dark, sombre and joyless. However ‘A Travers Les Lambeaux’ is a heavyweight brute that sonically pushes the levels of ferocity and heavyness. Those that are seeking to find newer, much heavier and nastier bands than the norm then look no further than Shezmu. A tough nut to crack, but when you have cracked it this album may just be your welcomed surprise find of the year.
