Red Mourning takes off again.
Created in 2003 in France, the band composed of Hoog « JC » Doorn (vocals/harmonica), Aurélien Renoncourt (drums/vocals), Romaric Meoule (guitar) and Sébastien Meyzie (bass/vocals) continues its adventure with Flowers & Feathers, its fifth album, still on Bad Reputation.
The Coming Wind, the first track, starts slowly enough to let a crushing groove hit us. The rhythmic suddenly softens and clean vocals join the game, quickly followed by a groovy explosion accompanied by harmonica. The melting may surprise at first, but it remains very coherent, just like the catchy introduction of Flowers & Feathers, the eponymous track. Riffs offer some technical hints and more impressive vocal parts under this thick basis which knows how to calm down at times, then 225 comes again to soften the atmosphere before placing jerky and heavy elements. Prog patterns also feed the explosions of violence, like this mysterious break which will let rage speak again, before Blue Time, the shortest track, which offers us an acoustic break with some percussion and a bewitching clean voice. Six-Pointed Star comes back to reign in dark riffs and the heady groove under haunting vocals which sometimes flares up, then Aeon’s Crest will offer some traditional hits before letting their more aggressive influences strike us. The band composes with blast and energetic riffs before letting Alien Language reveal some very soft tones. The track is short and relaxing, and it will quickly give way to the energetic Forget I’m Alone and its jerky riffs. The Groove Metal influences are extremely highlighted on this track which will be the perfect tool for the band to make the pits shake, just like Black Gold and its worked harmonics. This track’s thick rhythmic coupled with screaming vocals will calm down to give way to more soaring influences which drive us to Auburn and its softness to close the album with the combo’s Southern Metal roots.
Although known in the French scene, Red Mourning is a discovery for me. With Flowers & Feathers, the band shows asserted influences and a strong personality, which offers effective riffs in all ways.
75/100