HERESIE

Second Univers Zero album was a merciless middle finger given to any popular music, disco and punk in particular, at the time; heavily inspired by the darkest corners of Stravinsky and Penderecki, the band created a monstrous and hellish atmosphere dominated by sinister and demented harmonium patterns that give Toni Iommi's guitar riffs a run for the money, but the excellent combo of drums, bass, bassoon and violin adds a new dimension to the madness, and especially on the albums most claustrophobic spots. Extremely dissonant and bleak, the long compositions lead you through an intense series of ominous events;

The first nine minutes of 'La Faulx' is simply hell, represented by a beyond devilish harmonium that creates a blurred and torturous mood while the other instruments paints images alien enough to scar parts of your nerves. A creepy ritual with the band is made, quiet at first but soon turning into a demonic, transformal shriekfest before things calm down and fades into the next section; and suddenly I picture a horde of ominous creatures that sluggishly seeks for bloody events later on. The slumbering intro to 'Jack the Ripper' makes me think of London, autumn 1888, and the Ripper's final "official" (and goriest) murder. As the gloom and sinister atmosphere starts to climax we are introduced to a fantastically ominous harmonium riff that simulates the start of the murder, as the riff progresses a very violent and atonal violin solo makes the event clear and the listener left breathless. Possibly Univers Zero's tensest moment, but the rest of the song turns in a different direction and works perfectly as a "breather" after the murder. The final tune, a more rhythmic one penned by guitarist Trigaux is like a dark labyrinth full of chambers with strange stuff going on in them and you never know whats lurking behind next corner, which really adds to the paranoia. The spooky ending section is another highlight; it's very calm but neurotic and uneasy and ends rather abruptly, leaving you alone in the dark. Spooked out.

I still haven't experienced an album like this one, and probably never will, it's a peerless example on a drowning darkness album, and I am still intrigued by it after years of listening to it. Musically, Univers Zero sound deadly serious here, but you can actually sense some very black humour through parts of the whole oeuvre, most notably in the opening track, which also is the most sinister piece here. The compositions and playing are of such high and authentic quality that it they put any goth or black metal to shame, and the complexity stands up for multiple listens. Not for the depressed or schizophrenic, but adventurous listeners are advised to play it in the dark. I want this in my funeral!! 5 Stars for this unique masterwork, right up there with their next one 'Ceux du Dehors'.