When it comes to post black metal and bands that pushed the foundations of black metal out into different territory, Bosse-de-Nage and Deafheaven both come to mind as artists that have broken new ground over the past decade and a half. But while Deafheaven pushed even further into shoegaze and alternative territory and blew up in notoriety, Bosse-de-Nage’s has remained a bit more underground. Part of this is due to the fact they don’t tour outside of their home base of San Francisco and the surrounding area that often, but they’ve also been fairly quiet since the release of 2018’s Further Still. That effort saw them refine their blend of black metal, post hardcore, and screamo into its most direct and aggressive variant yet, so it makes sense that after an almost eight-year gap Hidden Fires Burn Hottest would head in the opposite direction. The songs emphasize space and periods of subdued instrumentation alongside the raging peaks, but they’ve been constructed in ways that will keep listeners engaged as they navigate all the various twists and turns the band has to offer.
A lot of groups that get tagged as post-black have leaned more into the post side of things over the course of their careers, but what has made Bosse-de-Nage stand out for me is how much of black metal’s fire and rough edges they’ve retained in their music. Hidden Fires Burn Hottest showcases this early on, as opener “Where To Now?” kicks things off with jagged guitar work and repeated drum rhythms that make it feel like you’re being battered by waves. The darker melodies are layered over top of this denser foundation, and even on a shorter track like this the group showcases a dynamic sound that pushes and pulls you with equal amounts of atmosphere and force. As you get into the longer tracks the instrumentation expands in scope, allowing for dips into softer melodies that have a more reflective and melancholic tone, and the way they then whip back up into a rage makes for some truly incredible moments. The pauses once again recall some earlier post hardcore and screamo in how they manage their build-ups, but I also get hints of post rock’s methodical cadences and there are flourishes of electronics on some of the songs that shake up the sound. You’ll also notice a lot of emotions captured through the cadence and tone of each piece, as “No Such Place” has a more triumphant and slightly brighter feel to it while the appropriately named “Frenzy” is violent and desolate. Everything seems to have been meticulously planned and executed, as even the interludes manage to have staying power. There are a few moments that do feel just a bit overstretched, and the guitar solo on “In the Name of the Moth” sounds awkward and at odds with the rest of the band (which I think may be on purpose but it just didn’t work for me). But when so much of what Hidden Fires Burn Hottest sucks you in and doesn’t let you go, it’s hard to fault these minor details.
Vocalist Bryan Manning has one of those pitches that is a love or hate depending on your tastes, as it’s purposefully ugly and gritty sounding and brings in a bit more of that screamo level of emotion alongside the black metal tones. The first few seconds of “Where To Now?” will probably be all newcomers needed to make that determination, but that harshness is what drew me immediately into the material. But the screams aren’t the only element of the vocal performance, as Bosse-de-Nage incorporates whispered sections and spoken word. “Mementos” and “In The Name Of The Moth” are great examples of this side of the sound, as they have a more poetic and more somber cadence that stands in stark contrast to the abrasiveness of the rest of the vocal work. You do also get some higher pitched screams on “No Such Place” that have a more post hardcore tone and further flesh out the sound. Like the instrumentation, a lot of thought has been put into how these all flow together, and while some of the spoken/whispered passages may not click with everyone they give Bosse-de-Nage some differentiating elements from others in the genre.
Where Further Still had a more direct and aggressive cadence, Hidden Fires Burn Hottest feels like a more measured and sprawling response that explores some of the subtler nuances and darker melodies without losing the scorching foundation. A few sections may sprawl just a bit longer than they need to, but this doesn’t dull the overall impact the material has. Where a lot of bands in the post black metal space have moved entirely away from the blackened elements for an album or two before returning to that sound, Bosse-de-Nage continues to infuse it directly into their mixture and the results are worth the lengthy wait. Hidden Fires Burn Hottest is available from The Flenser.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg