Métal Noir Québécois – An Introduction to the French-Canadian Black Metal Scene

Virtually every reasonably informed Metalhead who doesn't live under a rock is familiar with the Scandinavian Black Metal Scene, as that is where the origins of raging Black Metal lie. Much less well known, however, are the sub-scenes within Black Metal, most of which are regionally limited and have developed their own recognizable styles. Notable examples include the Greek and Polish scenes.

Here and now, we will focus on French-Canadian Black Metal, the "Métal Noir Québécois", whose bands are based in and around the city that gives it its name. In this small part of America, a unique and powerful Black Metal movement has emerged, developing and pursuing its own distinct sound.

While Montréal is considered the home of several well-known Death Metal bands, such as Kataklysm and Cryptopsy, and is quite famous on the Metal map, the Black Metal underground in Québec has been simmering away for several years, largely unnoticed by the masses. It's time to set the record straight and shed some more light on "Métal Noir Québécois".

"Métal Noir Québécois" is not only the name of the regionally rooted scene, but also the name of the first album by Forteresse, who, together with Délétère, Csejthe, and Sorcier des Glaces, can be counted among the current spearheads of this micro-genre. Obviously, the name of the scene is again derived from the debut album. In addition to Forteresse and Sorcier des Glaces, who are still very much alive, the veterans and ancestors of the scene include Monarque, Sombres Forêts, and Gris, who are now somewhat dormant.  

Purists may praise the rumbling production of past glories, but with the latest outputs, the sound quality has improved noticeably without denying the identity of the Québec scene in any way. It's really a pleasure to listen to the current albums. Here, the right balance between concert and cellar atmosphere has mostly been achieved. Nothing is overproduced, just as it should be for Black Metal (in the author's humble opinion).  

Two historically newer releases that have catapulted the respective bands to the top thanks to their outstanding quality are briefly presented here as examples of the style and recommended as listening samples. One is "Thèmes Pour la Rébellion" by Forteresse from 2016, and the other is “De Horae Leprae” by Délétère from 2018. It's fair to say that these albums showcase the quintessence of the scene, i.e., what makes "Métal Noir Québécois" so appealing and unique. 

Particularly noteworthy is the almost hypnotic catchiness of the compositions, the appealingly calm and melodious playfulness of the guitars with sometimes – if you can call it that in Black Metal – catchy guitar riffs that sooner or later drill their way into your ears.  Even the vocals can sometimes be understood as an instrument in their own right, so harmoniously and yet contrapuntally accentuated to the instrumentation they fit into the cosmos. The vocals are, of course, in French. Identity and history play an important role in the self-image of this small but vociferous scene.

But before you notice all the accents and details, the first time you hear it, you are initially struck by a blazing inferno that celebrates the ashes left behind. With the accelerator pedal mostly pressed to the floor, the listener is granted only a few quiet passages, which, however, with their often mystical-historical-scenic atmosphere, weave themselves completely naturally into the overall picture to form an organic backdrop that allows one to literally feel the landscape, history, and cultural heritage of the region in its dark days. At the same time, the songs unfold a rebellious and, despite all afflictions, liberating effect.

For those who want a little more historical insight and want to go back to the beginnings of the scene, we recommend the peculiar Gris with "Il Était une Forêt..." or the debut album by Forteresse. Particularly noteworthy in terms of quality: Monarque with "Ad Nauseam".

The home of the Québec scene is primarily the local label Sepulchral Productions, which in turn emerged from the band Frozen Shadows, one of the first representatives of the local scene. However, the German label Eisenwald is also involved in the distribution of "Métal Noir Québécois" and has signed bands such as Cantique Lépreux and Précieux Sang, but also distributes output and merchandise from Forteresse.

For those who want a comprehensive overview and a representative selection, the split EP "Légendes" featuring Monarque, Forteresse, Csejthe, and Chasse-Galerie is highly recommended as an introduction to the French-Canadian Black Metal sound.