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Peste Noire: Ballade cuntre lo anemi francor

07/09/10 || sly

The first time I laid ears on this, I didn’t know Peste Noire or anything about it. I heard some medieval feminine vocals singing an old tune, then in the background an angry imp began to snarl. The music grew heavier, with the ugly impish voice rasping and roaring. What the hell is this?

It is Peste Noire’s third full-length album, “Ballade cuntre lo Anemi Francor”.

As I listened through, I began to perceive a story. I still don’t know precisely what it is, but there is a very dark fairy tale of archaic sorts. The locale is unmistakably a dismal pestilence-era Europe, and life is very grim indeed. This album has achieved a very unique atmosphere capable of transporting one’s mind into a world of perpetual death and disease, anger and despair, but also of national loyalty and espérance.

If you have not yet heard this but would like to give it a fair listen, I would ask you to clear your mind of all genre-based expectations; of all expectations whatsoever. Listen with open ears and a vacant mind; allow the music to envelop you and steal you away to a time of staggering demise and despondency. Don’t expect black metal, folk metal, or penis metal- this one is sans genre. A sound all its own.

Some people may have a problem with the French Nationalist aspect of PN, so without wanting to get too much into it, I will say a few words on my view of it.

La Sale Famine de Valfunde (the brain and creator of PN) has some extreme views, but neither he nor the band are associated with neo-Nazism in any way. They are proud of their country and desire to preserve its traditions and culture. Whether it’s right or not, or you agree with it or you don’t, I am sure we all listen to music which symbolizes things which we do not care to conform to. In the name of clarity, the booklet states that Peste Noire is “un groupe sataniste nationaliste français“. And if it still bothers you, don’t listen to it.

I am not a French Nationalist, so where do I connect with this?

Hatred.

Hatred is ubiquitous. And my repugnance for the majority of the loathsome human inhabitants of this peculiar planet abounds. Famine’s strange vocals, combined with the macabre music, produce such a rush of utter detestation and abhorrence. Yet one can also hear the sounds of a more hopeful commonality.

Inspiration for the album came from Famine driving through olden France. He says, “All these visions, these odors from all these landscapes, ruins and forests in France, I bring them all back home and spit them back out again in my music. That is how Ballade was created, overall a very spring-like and sunny album.”

I will not be including a website as there is not one. PN is very clear in its aversion to an Internet-based society, and has never condoned any official websites or MySpaces. In lieu of a PN website, I am providing a link to an excellent interview with Famine. It is very long, and may require punctuated reading, but I highly recommend reading it. It is certainly one of the most interesting interviews I’ve read, and imparts a rather in-depth inspection of Famine’s personal points of view. If it doesn’t make you hate him even more, you will probably gain a certain respect for his purposes.

This is one of those releases that you will either spit upon, or really enjoy its outlandishness.

Information
Released: 2009
Label: De Profundis
Website: Interview with La Sale Famine de Valfunde
Band
La sale Famine de Valfunde: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Sainte Audrey-Yolande de la Molteverge: vocals, piano, organ
Ragondin: bass
Andy Julia: drums

Tracklist
01. Neire Peste
02. La Mesniee Mordrissoire
03. Ballade Cuntre les Anemis de la France
04. Concerto Pour Cloportes
05. La France Bouge
06. A la Mortaille
07. Vespre
08. Rance Black Metal de France
09. Requiem Pour Nioka
10. Soleils Couchants

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