Malhkebre is a Black Metal act based out of France that formed back in 2002. Prostration marks the band's first EP, and first actual release since the only thing issued prior was an independently release demo called In His Name, consisting of only two tracks. It's been roughly two years since that independent demo, and since then, we have been given a four song EP, two tracks of which were on the original demo, but that doesn't really matter to most as the demo was never really circulated to the fans, as their website reports it was kept "confidential". While the lack of more original material on this EP over such a long timespan is disappointing, this release still makes for an enjoyable listen for the most part.
At first, Prostration's openning may deter you from continuing on, even though it's four tracks in length. "Nothingness Way" starts off with overly echoed vocals saying things in a rather menacing way through the use of gutterals in a manner that many would expect to hear in a horror film about an evil spirit or demon or something. The build up to the actual song seems to take forever, lasting nearly two minutes before the song actually kicks in, and it's worth the wait. The production quality, of course, is rather raw, but still sounds good since all the instruments are at a level that they can all be heard without one element dominating the other. Even the bass is podded nicely in the release, and there are certain moments, like about three and a half minutes into "Nothingness Way", where the bass really drives the song, essentially playing what the guitar is playing, but a simpler version that is a little louder and really makes that section stand out moreso then any other spot that the bass appears in. This track, as well as "Première Louange", which is performed in a somewhat ritualistic manner as far as the music goes, being played rather slowly and having breaks in the music where it's driven mostly by the slow, ritual-like drumming, make up the two track originally available on the band's demo, leaving the last two tracks as the new material, which are set up in a way that brings this release together to sound as if it's a compilation of two demo recordings that were composed of two songs each.
The reason it will seem that way is because these tracks are essentially set up the same way as the last two. This set starts up with "Obscurus Religiosus", the longest track on the album spanning seven and a half minutes, but takes nearly two minutes to start. The introduction is simply growling against some bass tones that one could argue sound like a slow heartbeat or a pounding on a heavy door, but extremely distorted. Instead of the music kicking in slow then building up for a few more moments before actually kicking in like "Nothingness Way", the song just blasts into the music, and once again, the song itself is very well done with vocals that range from the deep growling that started the track, to the traditional Black Metal vocal style throughout. For as long as it is, there's plenty of changes in the track that will keep the listener attentive the whole time, much like the slower, more haunting section that kicks in about half way through that really sets a nice ambience before the bridge that braces the listener for the oncoming well fitted blast beats. Of course, when the track ends, "Fidèles Serviteurs" kicks right in, much like the start of "Première Louange". Again, one of the longest tracks on the release, but this one features some great Black Metal intensity and fury that some of the other tracks here lack, and acts as the polar opposite of "Première Louange" even though the tracks seem to follow a similar pattern of structuring in the track list.
| 2010 Reissue: |
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The 2010 reissue of Prostration features absolutely nothing new, so if you own the original pressing, there's no real need to purchase this edition. However, chances are good you don't own it due to it's strictly limited pressing count of only five hundred twenty five, as well as the fact that this group was, and still is, a deeply underground Black Metal act. So, if you missed out on the original pressing of the release, now is your chance to pick up this release, making this reissue a bit of a necessary action instead of simply another pressing shortly after an album's release for a label to make some extra cash.
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With the growing fascination on French Black Metal bands, there is no doubt that Malhkebre should be a band to take notice of. While the lack of fresh material given the time span is disheartening, these four tracks that compose Prostration make for a good listen, and offer up enough variety to have you coming back for more. The only pitfall to the release is the drawn out introductions that face the start of "Nothingness Way" and "Obscurus Religiosus". Other then that, Prostration by Malhkebre is a solid effort that shows great promise from the band.
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