The Baptized is a family affair.

After a first EP in 2022, the three cousins Nicolas Bonnet (guitar), Julien Heudel (bass) and Vincent Berrier (drums) unveil their first album, Exilion, released by Atypeek Music.

With The Baptized, the message is clear: they like it when it grooves, when the sound is hot, when feedback mingles with harmonics and catchy rhythms. There’s no need for vocals for this trio, who clearly know how to convince with heady riffs, Old School influences packed with psychedelic or aerial effects, and above all interesting melodies borrowed from Stoner or Post-Rock. I don’t really like basic instrumental albums, but I admit that this one is easy to listen to, so fluid is it, each composition seeming to take up the torch in a very harmonious way, and the “pauses” aren’t even pauses! While Welcome To Exilion, the opening track, is rather noisy, we quickly move on to compositions that are constructed and led by a guitar that is sometimes tortured, but always very coherent, while the rhythm section does its job. I loved the false quietude of Endless Blast, which places its violent tones in a very progressive way, but also the energetic and motivating side of La Malterie, which – far from any attraction to drink, I can see you coming – knows perfectly how to create an unpredictable and almost aggressive bass play. If you also like long, soaring compositions, I can only recommend the last track, Storming The Dark, which offers over eleven minutes of sound torn between softness and relentlessness!

The Baptized is a good discovery to me, with a debut album that blends a wide range of influences in a very coherent way. I can’t guarantee that Exilion will remain my bedside album for years to come, but it’s a very pleasant adventure!

80/100

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