REVIEW: À L’OMBRE D’HÉMÉRA – “Saison de Déceptions”

À L’OMBRE D’HÉMÉRA is a Post-Metal/Post-Core band out of Lévis, Québec. They were formed back in 2015 and this is their third release entitled ‘’Saison de Déceptions’’.

Post-Metal and the province of Québec go hand and hand together, we were one of the first to really grasp that movement. We embraced it with open arms and one of the best bands of the genre is from here called GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR. They were at the forefront of the genre with the best of the bands from the US like NEUROSIS, and ISIS among countless great ones. You must have an open mind to really appreciate the genre and honestly, it took me more than 10-15 years to fully comprehend and enjoy the music to its absolute fullest.

I have a love-hate relationship with the French Language, yes I am a French Canadian living in the good old Province of Quebec but never felt the French language was lyrically proficient. French is a very specific language with a lot of rules and regulations that dictate it and as much as it’s a beautiful language, I never really felt attracted by French-speaking artists. I always felt the language fell flat and was a bit redundant and cheesy. Well, À L’OMBRE D’HÉMÉRA may have picked my interest because the lyrics are compelling.

À L’OMBRE D’HÉMÉRA was a band that instantly appealed to me. In the search for more bands within the Post Metal genre, I came across this band. They bore somewhat of a resemblance to the irresistible material of bands like CULT OF LUNA and ISIS, which are two of the most well-known bands in the genre.

I already reviewed their 2019 EP and was happy to begin this rediscovery of the band and the genre itself. I kind of abandoned the genre the last few years but this brought me back to the fold.

It is from this point on that not only does the album not falter but grows and becomes stronger with seemingly every track. The development in their evolution continues here as well as they have slowly been incorporating more post-rock elements on previous releases and this album is no different as the influence becomes greater than ever I for one, being a fan of a post-rock feel that this only makes sense as the band moves further in developing their staple sound.

Musical comparisons to the band Tool are certainly no stretch of the imagination; it feels as if through their contact, À L’OMBRE D’HÉMÉRA has assimilated part of that band’s bass-heavy sound and rhythmic builds into their own formula. While I might not like Tool that much, these new elements do add a dark feeling to the music that really works. The tracks here are generally drawn out with sludgy riffs, psychedelic ambiance, and Miguel Bélanger’s distinctive voice. The music is well-played, but more so in the great choice of timbres as opposed to any flamboyant technical playing, of which there is none here. Instead, they opt for an ironically mellow approach to their metal; while there may be growls and heavy riffs here, the sound never feels out of control. This high sense of calibration and intention throughout the songwriting makes the heavier moments feel a bit unsteady. Their strength here however lies in the more atmospheric segments of the music, which are done absolutely masterfully here.

The listener is submerged in atmospheric post-rock/metal, with hints of hardcore. I’m not a fan of hardcore but they do not use that pseudo-tough guy attitude that bands such as Hatebreed use. My problem with the vocals is that they seem to be buried in the mix. At times it feels the mix is not the greatest and it feels uneven and odd but it’s just a small thing.

The album flows like a great novel, where each track sounds like a natural progression from the one that preceded it. This album is as equally haunting as it is a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere and compositional power are so immense, and to fully get the experience of the cd you simply have to listen to it and immerse yourself in the music. It truly opens up new channels in your brain that you might have thought never existed, and you can really feel the soul of this album surge through you.

It never ceases to amaze me how a lesser-known band can find a way to compact a lifetime of emotion and passion into only a few tracks. À L’OMBRE D’HÉMÉRA are ready to take it to the next level and become the flagbearer of the genre. They are incredibly overlooked but not anymore after the release of ‘’Saison de Déceptions’’.