Décembre Noir - Autumn Kings (2018)

Arriving just in time for those long and dark Autumn/Winter days, today we have Décembre Noir and their monumental third full-length release “Autumn Kings”. Oozing with melancholy, this German band delivers eight soul crushing tracks that clock in at around 70 minutes of music. Perfectly crafted for fans of old Insomnium, Forest of Shadows, Rapture, etc., this release is gearing up to be the best one of its genre in 2018.

The album kicks off with the atmospheric build-up of “In the Pouring Rain” as it suddenly erupts in mournful riffs and firm growls. Perfectly immersing the listener into their melancholic sound, the band slowly progresses into heavier and more sinister territories with some crushing passages. The album title track continues the gloomy vibe with more incisive riffs and brilliantly crafted tempo changes, which allow the song be engaging and never get dull.

Introducing some somber clean vocals in “Barricades”, the band nicely changes gears on a more atmospheric and exploratory piece, while “A Weeping Sunrise” focuses more on dramatic tempo changes and a hefty dosage of distorted guitars. Showcasing some serious Insomnium vibes, “Between Silence and Shards” is one of those pieces expertly crafted to headbang from start to end.

“Autumn Kings” continues to deliver sorrow and sadness in its purest form through tracks like “Dress.Code.Black” and “Hymn of Sorrow”, making it one of the most demoralizing releases of the genre in 2018. With a solid production and expert craftsmanship, the songs presented by Décembre Noir instantly show that the band poured all their efforts into tweaking them to near perfection. If you like melancholic music and firm growls, this is an album you can’t miss.

Label: LifeForce Records

Release: November 9th, 2018

Genre: Melodic Death/Doom Metal

Country: Germany