The vast majority of the time whenever I listen to anything that can be described as “post”, it’s rock rather than metal for two simple reasons. (1) There are far more post-rock bands than post-metal acts so more to choose from for post-rock, and (2) my experiences with post-rock have been far better than post-metal over the course of years. But I’ve always liked stepping out of my comfort zone to see if I find something I enjoy, and I thankfully got something solid with the one-man act of Le Menhir albeit far from great in my eyes.

Post-metal has always been something that’s hard to put my finger on as I tend to lean more towards acts like Minsk when it comes to the genre with how well bands like that do atmosphere incredibly well while still delivering a satisfying experience. It’s tough to find an act like that which also achieves a great display of emotion throughout the material, but it’s with Le Menhir that we get a solid mix of all of that in just two tracks. The intro track does serve as a good little teaser, but it’s with the other two pieces that allow “Aube” to really show itself off. And right off the bat, I couldn’t have a single thing to complain about. But then, the vocals hit. The vocals of Le Menhir aren’t bad but they simply don’t mix all that great. It’s much more prevalent in the first track rather than the second, but it still carries through “Aube” as it sticks out like a sore thumb, but thankfully the surrounding instruments do nothing but elevate the material so that Le Menhir has ultimately created an overall solid experience whereas initially, I feared I wasn’t going to be able to enjoy it. But, luckily, there’s still a ton to enjoy from “Aube”. From the sheer emotion that’s performed beautifully to the gripping guitars to the powerful drums and the massive bass, Le Menhir has clear faults but it’s undeniable that this one-man act can create something savory to the core. Simply, the right pieces need to be placed in the correct fashion.

I’ve always enjoyed hearing bands that don’t blow my mind but are still able to catch my attention with peeks of talent and skill, and while Le Menhir isn’t the best example of such for me I can’t help but say I’d be more than interested to see what else Le Menhir can create in the future. “Aube” is a rocky start for someone like me, but it’s something that has definitely gotten my attention on the promise that is Le Menhir.

LISTEN to “Aube” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Le Menhir on Facebook here.