Zeal And Ardor - Tumblr Posts

these are so cool!

All the kandi I've made so far :]

Stranger Fruit

Zeal and Ardor

The second album from Swiss-American Manuel Gagneux's extremely Avant-garde black metal project was released earlier this year.

What starts as bluesy Occult rock mixed with Deep South folk and African Spiritualism morphs into a blizzard of frigid Norwegian-styled rage, a maelstrom of voodoo, Satanism, and pure hatred. Chanting, crooning, and howling are blended into a beautiful mix of heavy rock and roll and the wailing guitar sounds of classic black metal, in an album that never ceases morphing into something more.

If you're looking for something vicious in an unexpected way, this album is brilliant. A sonic ritual statement of independence and rage, it encapsulates the violent free spirit of Black Metal while being a beautifully crafted work of musicianship.

My only caveat is I feel some of the songs could be longer, allowing Gagneux to fully capitalize on the sound he is perfecting and the catchy choruses peppered throughout. Nevertheless, this has become one of my favorite albums this year, and I eagerly await the band's future endeavors.

You can pick it up via the band's Bandcamp page, or from their website for physical copies.

Personal Favorite Track: Don't You Dare

Album Artwork: Manuel Gagneux