Black Metal

AS DIVINE GRACE : "Supremature" (Avant Garde records) After 6 years of existence and line-up changes, the Finnish band As divine grace release their second album with Avant Garde records, "Supremature", after "Lumo" in 96 and an EP in Germany in 95. The band, led by the powerful vocals of singer Hanna Kalske and branded gothic / doom metal, has gone a long way: without turning their backs on their metal background, they bring in more personal and diverse influences, sometimes even pop ("Personal") or exotic (the briliant "Tango"), and even go as far as threatening the supremacy of the ever more popular Gathering. Light as air, dark or ethereal, "Supremature" is of the essence of the dreams you make eyes wide open or shut. As divine grace offers a timeless music, capable to live through the ages. Maybe that's what divine grace is all about... JEAN PAUL COILLARD

Pazuzu - The end of ages (Avantgarde) Pazuzu, named after an ancient Sumerian demon, is an Austrian band decidedly atypical in the world of black metal. Mainly a one-man project (Ray Wells - also Raventhrone leader), they release their third album, their first with Avantgarde, who have a knack for discovering unusual and original talents. There are no guttural vocals, roaring guitars or double drums here, the eerie atmosphere is rather gothic/ambient, more akin to weird soundtracks than eardrum splitting. With the help of traditional instruments (harpsichord, tambourines), noises (swords clashing in barbaric, merciless and bloody battles) and Gregorian chant samples, Pazuzu give a very subtle soundtrack to the Apocalypse, sung alternatively in English, German and French, occasionally disturbed by electronic interludes (Weeping Willow). As they themselves say, "this music was guided by the hands of decadence, evil, filth, suffering and plague". "Bloody" Marie Lecocq