The quest of Sans-Visage continues. After laying the first stones of his universe with Le départ, Prieuré returns with Jusqu’au bénitier, a work inhabited by traditions, legends, and the history of France. This solo project unfolds as a mystical journey, where each track acts as a sonic relic, an echo of ancient tales still haunting the forests and sacred stones.
From Introït, the listener steps into a sacred space: a few meditative notes open the path before violence descends with all the fervor of black metal. Sans-Visage builds his record as a pilgrimage—furious passages of abrasive riffs interspersed with atmospheric interludes that allow the narrative to breathe. The balance between brutality and contemplation structures the album, avoiding linearity and deepening immersion in this initiatory voyage.
The themes draw on folklore and myth, even invoking the voyage of Saint Brendan, a figure of spiritual wandering and transcendence. The French language, used both in vocals and narration, lends a unique weight to the texts, further grounding the work in its cultural roots. Certain tracks stand out: Le grand incendie for its devastating intensity, or Vautour, striking in its radical edge. Guests—additional voices, narration, and even bagpipes on Triomphe—enrich the whole without breaking its coherence.
Where Le départ leaned more toward rawness, Jusqu’au bénitier shows an evolution in songwriting: more nuance, more breathing space, yet always underlined by a persistent tension that prevents any complacency. The production, deliberately rough yet clear, highlights the alternation of climates without dulling the raw, visceral edge.
With Jusqu’au bénitier, Prieuré delivers an ambitious and singular record, one already standing out among the notable francophone black metal releases of 2025. It is an album of cold stones and haunted woods, a celebration as much as a warning, a reminder that music can be a passage, an ordeal, a revelation.
You can find Prieuré’s full discography – the three EPs, the two splits, and both full-length albums – directly on Bandcamp, and follow the project to stay updated on future releases.
- Bandcamp: https://prieure.bandcamp.com/music
- Facebook: Prieuré
- Instagram: prieure_bzh
