Forteresse - Les Hivers De Notre Époque (2008)

Forteresse's second album, 'Les Hivers De Notre Époque,' once again on Sepulchral Productions and after a 7” LP in 2007 surely brought this Quebec based black metal band to greater heights.

With this second album it seems this two piece band is taking their music in a more atmospheric and ambient like direction and forgoing the folk elements found on their debut album, 'Métal Noir Québécois,' With that said you can probably guess that the music is a bit more traditional black metal in character with lots of repetition and droning, but certainly not boring since the atmosphere is immense. The production also seems to be considerably more underground, but nevertheless completely appropriate for this style of music. Also given the current month this album is superb too as it truly is cold, wintry and very dark in character.

Besides that Forteresse doesn't offer up much more than another pleasing black metal record. Honestly I do enjoy the debut slightly more so, but black metal bands usually perform at their finest on there first outing. Even so if you enjoyed the debut or just really atmospheric black metal then I'd certainly wave you towards this album.

It seems late last year these guys unleashed their third full-length, 'Par Hauts Bois et Vastes Plaines,' which means an order from Sepulchral Productions is definitely soon to come for me.