Galibot is undergoing a major transformation.
Following their signing with Les Acteurs De L’Ombre and the evolution of their debut album, the band comprising Diffamie (vocals), Thomas Deffrasnes (guitar/vocals), Clément Joly (bass), Robin Grabmann (drums), and Julian Baquero (guitar) is unveiling their new album, Catabase.
The album opens with Catabase, the title track, which feels like a quickly unsettling introduction that transforms into a wave of haunting, lingering darkness, effortlessly transporting us into the band’s tortured universe before leading into Jeanlin, where the first vocal parts appear. Primarily tortured and visceral, they give way to a few softer, lighter touches for the duration of a lament before returning to their rawer form, accompanied by virulent riffs, before leading into the equally violent Bleu Noir Rouge, an obvious symbol of the mines of northern France. Here again, we feel an expressive fury at every moment, even during the long melodic passages that eventually transform into an almost martial rhythm, then a dissonant one, and finally a majestic one, before sinking into despair on Voreux, the next, much heavier track. The two voices join forces to amplify their presence in this chaotic universe, heightening the monstrous quality of the rhythm section from which they break free before merging into Baptise Terre, which begins with a suffocating sound, then suddenly subsides, allowing us to catch our breath, before gently intensifying. The hazy saturation gains ground until it becomes omnipresent, finally leaving us on Pénitent, where violence resurfaces with an old-school touch, in turn broken by the reassuring clean vocals that tame the riffs, then allow them to take off at full speed. The abrasive sound doesn’t last long, however, quickly giving way to the haunting Les Montagnes Poussent Sous Terre, a longer, slower track that first envelops us in its hypnotic veil before returning to more energetic elements, creating a most delightful dreamlike contrast. There’s another pause before we reach Estaminet, Pt. 1, heralded by the previous sample, which effortlessly sweeps us up in its tormented rhythm with haunting harmonics; then the two voices guide us through the ambient chaos while fueling the bellicose fervor, leading us to Terril, where the sound suddenly explodes. Telling us another chapter of their story, the band returns to its hellish, atmospheric roots not only with searing riffs, but also with a chilling sample that provides a welcome respite, yet further intensifies the devastating sound until Saint Cordon takes over. The respite is very short-lived, as the rhythm section becomes barely bearable once again, weaving its searing leads that lash our eardrums before being soothed once more by Mesektet, a track where a more ethereal element unfolds despite its aggressive elements, continuously fueling this intoxicating contrast in which we lose ourselves one last time before facing the silence.
Galibot had already made a very strong impression on me with the evolution of their first album, but Catabase is simply stunning. In addition to a strong identity and a theme very rarely explored in Black Metal, the compositions are extremely lively and already demonstrate great musical maturity.
95/100