France is far from a country that is new to the world of metal as a whole with several notable acts coming from within its borders in recent years, namely Gojira. Yet, with the black metal act of Ende easily being my favorite band to come from France, I’ve been wanting to hear as much French black metal as I could. Surprisingly, it’s not very vast in terms of sheer numbers but it’s far from lacking in quality. Bands like Geisterfels continue to bring more light to French black metal, and this debut record is a delicious example of what can be done.

The style is far from the last place you’d expect to see with a medieval theme with fantasy being a very prominent topic to appear time and again, but with their debut, Geisterfels decided to go with some nonfiction with “La névrose de la Pierre”. This eight-track tour de force of black metal with a fair old-school vibe follows the adventures of a French poet wandering the Rhine and Mosel Valleys, marveling at the castles he saw while noting the ruins as majestic as well as a metaphor of the sorrows leading one’s mind to collapse. Nothing you’d really think would make a great black metal record when on paper, but Geisterfels pulls it off pretty fucking well, I have to admit. We’re greeted with what made black metal plenty enjoyable back in the 90s with a solid, raw feel to the whole of “La névrose de la Pierre” combined with the tasteful use of atmosphere, delectable riffage, and a slightly more modern approach to songwriting. It allows enables this eight-piece record to come together quite nicely in order for Geisterfels to wrap up the album incredibly well with no less than a delicious sense of fulfillment after listening to “La névrose de la Pierre” even just once.

Granted, Geisterfels doesn’t blow everything before them out of the fucking water, but each time I hear “La névrose de la Pierre” there is always something to enjoy in every single song that continues to keep your attention locked without room to wander about. I already knew the French black metal scene was in good hands, and Geisterfels has all but confirmed that to be a fact.

LISTEN to “La névrose de la Pierre” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Geisterfels on Facebook here.