Continuing with the sound of the infernal Goat Demon, this week brings us to one of the most grim and blasphemic-sounding bands there is, France’s Mütiilation.

Fronted by Meyhnach (who seems to have dropped the apostrophe from his name), Mütiilation are one of the few bands (the only, perhaps) that survived the infamous Les Légions Noires. However, Meyhnach had been asked to leave in 1996, owing to an apparent narcotics problem. After that he then pretty much vanished into misanthropy and apathy, saying he could no longer continue making music for the trendy black metal scene. In a 1999 compilation of earlier work, Remains of a Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul, it stated he was dead. This proved to be untrue with the release of 2001’s resurrection/comeback (if you will), Black Millenium (Grimly Reborn), which features one of the most ridiculous covers in musical history.

I have really only ever concerned myself with the debut release, 1995’s Black Imperial Blood. Stylistically, I think the influence of Norway’s then-masters of black metal is obvious, especially the four Norsemen (as I like to call them): Burzum, Darkthrone, Mayhem and Immortal. The production is pretty much non-existent a la Transilvanian Hunger, however the overall sound, I feel, edges more towards Burzum. A 2001 reissue of the record featured a message from Meyhnach stating, “This is the kapitalist release for American fuckers… those who weren’t able to get it in ‘95. This is the reason why I wanted no artwork. This is the last pressing and your ultimate chance to get it… but anyway, I think so few of you really deserve it as you’re unable to reach my world of Night and Sorrow. We’ll meet in Hell anyway… Destroy your life for Satan.” Pretty funny as it was reissued again, earlier this year. He is also credited as a major influence on the depressive/suicidal black metal sub-genre (Xasthur etc). I feel this is as classic a release as Les Légions Noires ever put out; Vlad Tepes and Belketre’s split a close second. More on these guys next year. If you haven’t seen their fanzine, click here.

Listen: Mütiilation, “Black Imperial Blood”

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†ROCKWELL†