Artist: Malhkebre
Country: France
Label: Battlesk’rs Productions
Formats: 7″ EP
Year: 2025
French Black Metal has always been something that intrigued me. While there’s obviously also been some stuff that was fairly easy to digest like Anorexia Nervosa or the earlier work of Blut Aus Nord, French Black Metal is mainly typified by a strong French-specific primal feeling of stubbornness and obstinacy. Even when lots of French Black Metal requires quite a bit of effort to wrap your head around, the influence of bands like Antaeus, Deathspell Omega, Mütiilation and Blut Aus Nord is unmistakable and undeniable. Yet, in places with such a rich tradition and fertile ground, there are always a number of bands that make you wonder why they haven’t gained more recognition. To me Malhkebre is one of such bands.
There might be a good few reasons to come up with to explain why the band isn’t on anyone’s lips, but I am sure one of the most plausible reasons is that Malhkebre isn’t quite the most prolific band around. Two demos tapes, two EP’s (including this new one), a split 7” EP (with Aosoth) and two full-length albums in about 25 years isn’t exactly a whole lot. But, a wise man once said that it is not about the quantity…
Malhkebre’s last proper feat was the ‘Satanic Resistance’-album from 2019, and although the silence was broken by a limited demo tape in 2023, It was about time these Frenchmen made themselves heard. But once you let the needle sink into the grooves, the bygone time is quickly forgotten. This is French Black Metal by numbers. Truly Malhkebre, without any question. It is all there: an eerie melody, the and dragging pace, the contrarian and unsettling riffs, the overall dark, doomy and oppressing atmosphere and the incantatory-like hoarse vocals. If you have been familiar with the band’s previous recordings, then this new song offers you a feeling of homecoming.
The second song on the flipside, however, is better left unplayed. I am usually not super fond of cover tracks to begin with, but this is one of the least impressive I have heard in recent times. ‘You Want It Darker’, originally recorded by the late Leonard Cohen on his last proper record, is a song that might feel suitable for a Black Metal version. It is arguably one of the darkest songs not recorded by a metal band, but the result as presented on the B-side of this piece of vinyl, is proof that Cohen’s version simply cannot be topped. In a way it feels inappropriate and almost like blasphemy.
So, a conclusion of sorts: happy to have Malhkebre back with a great new track, That bodes well for what will hopefully be an upcoming album. But I really hope they stick to their own compositions.
