More interesting black metal I missed originally in 2015 and wanted to make sure I covered more fully now. Maïeutiste (written here with the appropriate accent) is a French BM group out of Lyon whose sound could be more fully described as a collision of progressive black and funeral doom. Each song could be labeled with a different genre tag, and yet the album flows quite well, in a contorted sort of way. As such, this review is going to result in a bit of a breakdown.
Starting with the latter genre that comes through on Maïeutiste, one could very easily assume this album is going to be one big funeral dirge based on "Introductions." It was this impression and my general lack of enthusiasm for the style that led to an original pass on a review. But if you sit through this dreary opening instrumental, it will immediately become apparent that there is much more at play. More on this later, but just be aware that there will be a continued delightful recurrence of these sustained, mournful leads and the suffocating distortion throughout the album, sometimes when least expected (like the latter half of "The Fall").
But in between these moments there are a plethora of other styles emerging. Certain ones ring out as simple harsh, abrasive 2nd wave black metal while others have a proggier feel that answer the question "what might Opeth sound like if you removed the death metal from the equation?" For example, "In the Mirror," or referencing softer moments, the droney/acoustic "Purgatoire." Transitions happen just as often within tracks as between them, with even some thrash, rock, and jazzy ("Death to Free Thinkers," "Annonciation") elements woven in at times for good measure. It's quite the eclectic experience.
So even though my initial impression did not fill me with interest, I implore you to sample at least 2 or 3 tracks before turning the album down completely. I have found that each successive listen has yielded more comprehension of what is truly working here. It's not likely to be an instantly enjoyable experience, but I think this simply has to due with what a challenging listen it is as opposed to any missteps in the writing process. What do you say? Are your ears up it, or will you wuss out in favor of something more digestible. Will you be the Pumpkin Spice Latte-drinking basic b#$ch metal head...or something more?