Les Bâtards Du Roi – Les Chemins de L’exil

Les Bâtards Du Roi – French for ‘The King’s Bastards’, is a Orleans (the original French)-based trio, founded in 2022 and specializing in the ever more popular medieval or dark ages-inspired Melodic Black Metal. I have come across quite a few band of this particular sub-breed over the years, with a surprising high percentage of them originating from France. Or rather, a very hyperbolic surprise, considering the massive amount of history dating back to this era in and around France. Hell, there is most likely far more castles spread across the nation than there are albums released every year. Perhaps another hyperbole. But definitely an example of me digressing.

Since the bands inception they have so far released three Singles and, counting the record to be released in the middle of next month, two Full-length records. It is this as-of-unreleased performance that todays rant will be targeted towards.

The album, which is set to contain nine tracks spread across almost forty-seven minutes of audible soundscapes, sums up quite well what I have being hammering on about for nearly a decade now as far as the French Black Metal is concerned – They have a rather unique approach, seemingly grabbing the best building blocks of the titans of the past (in this case I seem to recognize quite a few large stones borrowed from mid-era Emperor for instance), using them as a strong foundation to build their music around, then suffusing it utterly through the mannerisms of culture of their homeland.

Indeed nothing is done to hide that fact, with both the name of the band as well as the name of the record – Les Chemins de L’exil in this case – being kept in their native French. And just like I praised their kinsmen, indeed, even their genre-men, Malevolentia, Darkenhöld and Véhémence for, they seamlessly infuse a strongly melodic approach into their music, layered deep into and strengthening the inherent aggression prevalent throughout the genre as a whole. This is matched only by the chaotic yet beautifully hypnotic use of the French language, expertly used to guide you through ‘The Paths Of Exile’, which is the translated title of the album (much obliged Google Translate – My own French abilities are sadly very sub-par).

So in many ways – This is a release that I would almost argue catches me being biased – Moreso than normal at any rate, due to my by now well-documented love of the genre and the fact that they hit every note just right.
The only thing keeping this album from scoring higher today is a matter of miniscules – But I already have great expectations for the next one.

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