Meurtrières is a French five-piece band blending Hardcore, Punk, Epic, and Heavy Metals to create a new alloy that is fast-paced and wild while remaining tightly woven into a coherent album. Having heard their self-titled debut EP, I can happily say this is a killer continuance of that first record. They have created a signature sound that is immediately recognizable and very distinct. Singing entirely in French, they write lyrics about medieval history, going farther back than both Iron Maiden and Sabaton. If you do not speak French, hit the internet, and run this through a translation program. It will greatly enhance your experience with this record.

https://meurtrieres.bandcamp.com/music

Band Members:

  • Fiona – Vocals
  • Flo Spector – Guitar
  • Olivier – Guitar
  • Xavier – Bass
  • Thomas – Drums

August 25, 2023  https://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/

Tracklist:

  1. Rubicon
  2. Aucun Homme, Aucun Dogme, Aucune Croix
  3. Tempete_Naufrage
  4. Ronde de Nuit
  5. Alma Mater
  6. Chevaleresses Du Chaos
  7. La Revenante

Once again, this band has defined its sound with a solid record made of seven coherent, consistent songs. From start to finish, the songs feel like they flow together without effort. Whether singing about witchcraft and how it was rejected and persecuted by the patriarchy or ancient monsters taking another life, they have a distinct sound and feel. Fiona has one of the more unique and recognizable voices in Rock and Metal today. Her style and delivery are spot on!

The guitars work well together, shredding their way through all seven tracks with brutality when required and delicacy where needed. The bass and drums are solid, powering each song forward with precision. The Punk influences mentioned above in the band bio are more about the attitude than the music or the lyrical content. Though it does exist in those realms, the main Punk stylings are from the feel of the songs as a whole.

Whether singing about the “Knights Of Chaos (Chevaleresses Du Chaos)” or “Night Watch (Ronde de Nuit),” they cover the subject with depth and understanding. Meurtrières know their history and cover it well. It’s like they’re French-speaking Sabaton with a focus on persecution rather than war. Their preferred focus seems to be more medieval, not nearly as recent as World War I or World War II.

“No Man, No Dogma, No Cross (Aucun Homme, Aucun Dogme, Aucune Croix)” is a shot at organized religion. The message I get, whether this is what they meant or not, is that following your own path is better than just going along with the group think of those people who put all their stock in one person/deity. There is a bit of rebelliousness, a la Joan Of Ark, in the lyrics. When they say “Her power infringes on their (Google translate, not perfect),” it is very reminiscent of when the church would burn or crucify people they deemed a threat. Sounds like history in a nutshell. Many places in today’s world have the same issues, people who have had power do not want to give it up. Governments and churches still work for their gain, nothing has changed.

Meurtrières has a way of pointing out that the more things change, the more they stay the same. If that is not a Punk attitude, I don’t know what is. After reviewing their debut EP for another site (Metal Temple), I’m glad I got to revisit this band. I hope they keep going for a long time to come as they have the ability to use history to teach current events. There is something to be said about that. Maybe they’re trying to tell us “those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.”

MZ Ratings:

Musicianship:

  •             Guitars – 9
  •             Rhythms – 9
  •             Vocals – 9
  • Songwriting – 9
  • Production – 9

Overall – 9.00