Style: Atmospheric black metal, dungeon synth, neofolk (Mixed vocals, mostly harsh)
Recommended for fans of: Summoning, Moonsorrow, Apocalypse Orchestra, Runescape music
Country: France
Release date: 21 March 2025
As I sit in stop-and-go nightmare rush hour traffic for the third time this week, I can’t help but think of the I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson sketch about the Darmine Doggy Door. At one point, Robinson looks directly at the camera and demands to know, ‘What the fuck is this world? What have they done to us? WHAT DID THEY DO TO US?‘ Of course, this is meant to be taken humorously in the context of a guy losing his mind over a pig in a Richard Nixon mask, but there is an undeniable truth to his sleep-deprivation-induced outburst. That one moment from Robinson’s sketch resonates so deeply due to the hostile architecture that comprises our modern world in both physical and cultural aspects. Frankly, I need to get the hell away from it sometimes, and there’s no better time to get involved in some escapism than an overlong drive home that does nothing but waste my and everyone else’s time, money, and energy. French black metallers Cercle du Chêne aim to hit that escapism sweet spot on debut Récits d’Automne et de Chasse (Stories of Autumn and the Hunt), a mix of dungeon synth and black metal depicting a group of wild beasts who convene under a tree to recount folk stories. Will you get lost in the tales they spin?
It’s a bit difficult to pin down whether Récits d’Automne et de Chasse is more of a black metal record or a medieval dungeon synth record—the two styles sit almost entirely in lockstep throughout its runtime, with Runescape-style MIDI tracks establishing a melodic and thematic framework while atmoblack guitars follow suit to cultivate tension and release. Récits luxuriates in a lackadaisical vibe, taking time to develop its ideas and gently approach climaxes with triumphant horns and Moonsorrow-flavored chants. This is less out of disinterest for the compositions and more out of an unshakeable desire to ‘stop and smell the roses’, allowing its myriad journeys to unfold at their own pace.
What works most in Récits‘ favor is its ineffable charm. Black metal is typically borne out of ugliness, anger, and aggression, and Cercle du Chêne are happy to subvert these principles entirely in the name of grand atmospheres and a ‘woodland fantasy creature’ aesthetic. The fervent tremolos and triumphant horns of “Le Trésor dans l’Onde Noire” (Treasure in the Black Wave) conjure imagery of a mouse in medieval warrior garb setting off on an adventure to conquer an evil king terrorizing their village and discover a legendary treasure in the process; dramatic organs and dirging guitar chords on “Dans le Crystal du Givre” (In the Frost Crystal) see a goose monk exploring an icy cavern only to find an enchanted crystal at its heart; and excited strings intertwine with woodwinds, harsh vocals, and group chants on “La Croix Entre les Bois” (The Cross between the Woods) as a party of travellers cautiously explore an unfamiliar and foreboding woodland. Though tracks like “Dans le Crystal du Givre” and “Un Duel de Rois” (A Duel of Kings) may come across a bit rough around the edges and plod along for a bit too much time in their middle sections, the MIDI synths that weave through Récits are just so god damn adorable that I can’t help but smile when I listen.
While the dungeon synth moments hit almost without fail, their impact would be significantly lessened without the presence of black metal adding some much-needed heft and tension. The buildup in the center section of “La Croix Entre les Bois”, for example, wouldn’t hit nearly as hard without the harsh vocal performance and powerful guitar layering. Additionally, the black metal satisfyingly takes center stage in the middle of “Aux Jours de Chasse” (In the Days of the Hunt), as an ominous synth break explodes into double-time blast beats and furious tremolos. While most of Récits is infectiously pleasant, this moment is particularly ugly and intense, wavering between aggressive instrumentation and delicate synth breakdowns into one of the record’s most grand conclusions. Though, as much as I adore the dungeon synth base, I do wish the black metal was let off the reins a bit at times, either exploring counterpoint ideas against the non-metal instrumentation to add complexity and texture or to simply switch up the pace a little. In its current state, the quality of the black metal ranges from serviceable to excellent, and in most cases, this is a function of how much the black metal is allowed to divert.
The slight lack of variety in Récits d’Automne et de Chasse’s metal moments gives me a tinge of concern in the back of my mind for how far this style can be explored, but these are concerns unfitting for an orphaned woodland grouse who just discovered they come from a line of renowned magicians. Récits is a debut brimming with charm that has me smiling through some of the most obnoxious and wasteful of human constructs. With a touch of polish and some more freely exploring black metal, the forest canopy is the limit; I am giddily excited for what’s to come next from Cercle du Chêne. Pick up a copy of Redwall and let’s forget that any of that ‘real life’ garbage exists for a little while.
Recommended tracks: La Croix Entre les Bois, Le Trésor dan l’Onde Noire, Aux Jours de Chasse, Sur les Toits d’une Tour
You may also like: Caladan Brood, Ashlands, Bakt, the works of Brian Jacques
Final verdict: 7.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Antiq Records – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website
Cercle du Chêne is:
– La Griesche (vocals)
– Hyver (synths, guitars)
– Frère Loup (guitar)
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