Blackened sludge. What would be a repellent descriptor of my lunch translates to one of my new favorite genres. French group, Valve, represents my most recent foray into the misanthropic world of thick, heaving riffs and shrieked vocals. So what does Apnee have to offer?
Quite a bit, actually. Not as vile-sounding as groups like Indian or Lord Mantis, they sport a bit of a post-hardcore fusion to their sound. It's kind of like listening to Converge played at half speed. There are still some bendy, dissonant melodies and use of feedback; but Valve tempers this with the more traditional sound of Wovoka and Alaskan. The steady alternation of palm muting, treble chords, and earworm picked melodies on openning track, "Lapsit Ex Illis," sports a similar sea-fairer atmosphere.
But the vocals...this ain't Isis. They nail a sweet spot between a wretch, howl, and growl that is fairly unique. The performance also occassionally channels sounds I have heard on releases from now-defunct mathcore act, The Number Twelve Looks Like You. No matter what pitch the listener happens to be receiving, the contempt is palpable.
While the majority of tracks, including noisy, technical closer "777," feature pretty accessible runtimes; don't shy away from the 13+ minute "Une Carcasse..." This doomy, despairing opus is equally memorable and knows just when to shift gears. Those familiar with Lord Mantis' "Possession Prayer" or Indian's "Guiltless" should feel right at home.
Ultimately, Apnee is sludge familiar enough to be instantly endearing, but just unique enough to warrant attention. The melding of black, post-hardcore, and even a touch of mathcore create something wholly rewarding and replayable. I know personally I've come back to this album over a dozen times since adding it to my library. Considering the amount of time I end up dedicating to new releases, that's high praise from me. Check it out on bandcamp. It's 3 Euro.
