Review by http://www.metal-archives.com/

A very nice prelude - 83%
Written by Sean16 on August 6th, 2006

So I eventually managed to lay a hand on an original copy of it, this debut EP from my favourite French doom band. Granted, let’s begin by saying it doesn’t live up to the following album Arcanes, but thinking a newly formed band would immediately come out with a release like Arcanes is similar to thinking your three-years-old daughter will discover the ultimate hidden meaning of quantum mechanics physicists have been looking for for fifty years or so. It would most probably be a monster of a daughter, or a monster of a band.

What I often praised in Anthemon was their ability to record very distinctive-sounding records, each one being strong and coherent in its own style, from the utterly depressive Arcanes to the experimental Kadavreski, without forgetting the very atmospheric, almost psychedelic Dystopia. It’s not so clear with Talvi, which is more or less a draft of Arcanes, as could be expected, more than a release carrying its own personality. Indeed, what makes me all the more think the musicians themselves considered this release only as a foretaste of more consistent things to come is they labelled it as an EP while it’s already longer than some full-lengths from other bands (lasting 35 minutes).

What doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. All elements that would later make the charm and strength of Arcanes are present: slow but nonetheless lively songs where large parts are dedicated to haunting, “atmospheric” instrumental parts most of the time topped by an eerie piano tune, depressive high-pitched female vocals, backing whispers as well as spoken parts, occasional growls from bassist and band’s mastermind Marc Canlers, and somewhat strained structures which require several listens to be fully appreciated. If I had to point out musical as well as atmosphere similarities with a far better-known band, it would be the Swedish gothic/doom metallers of Draconian, even if claiming any influence from the Swedish act on the French one would be a total nonsense. Hey, don’t forget we’re in 2000, when Draconian still was a rather unknown band, which groundbreaking debut Where Lovers Mourn would be released in 2003, one year AFTER Arcanes. On the other hand, given how little-known Anthemon is outside of France, the reciprocal influence is very unlikely either – although... could someone please tell me the name of Draconian’s gorgeous 2005 release?

Now after this small digression, if one look at the overall quality of the songs here, one will probably find some disparities. Singer Nathalie Bonnaud still shows some weaknesses especially when she reaches the highest notes, making her voice sound more like the usual gothic one rather than the unique timbre she will display on the following album. Thus this is no wonder the best track might be the seven minutes long instrumental Der Todesking, which already bears the typical Anthemon atmospheric, almost bombastic signature, standing just on the line where repetition is a mark of genius before becoming a weakness. Concerning the more typical gothic/doom songs which constitute the core of this EP, the more noticeable would be Floating Further and its long and amazing soloing part, the beautiful Shroud of Frost which will most probably show anyone how much the piano was THE driving force behind Anthemon in their early days, and Withered Smile. The two other tracks, while good, however sound less inspired and both drag on a bit, while Talvi is only a 1:30 minutes long totally useless soundscapes intro.

It may not be Arcanes, but this EP shows nonetheless far more than what would be historical value reserved to die-hard Anthemon fans only. It’s now pretty hard to find, but if you’re a gothic/doom metal lover and stumble upon it, don’t hesitate.

Highlights: Floating Further, Shroud of Frost, Withered Smile, Der Todesking

Chronique Nightfall In Metal Earth (2001)

En voilà une surprise qu'elle est bonne! Anthemon est un jeune groupe parisien très prometteur. Ils évoluent dans un metal gothique atmosphérique qui évoque les premiers albums de Theatre Of Tragedy, et un peu aussi Katatonia. C'est cependant plus heavy que TOT, il y a beaucoup plus de solos de guitare. De plus, la chanteuse a une très belle voix, très originale par rapport aux autres chanteuses de ce style qui ont souvent tendance à copier Liv Kristine Espenaes. Elle a un timbre très particulier et assez envoutant. C'est également une voix aiguë et cristaline, mais elle a quelque chose en plus, sans pouvoir dire exactement quoi...En tout cas, c'est une très belle voix, douce et pleine d'émotions, qui survole l'ensemble.

Quant au chant masculin, c'est une bonne voix death, bien profonde, qui contraste parfaitement avec la voix cristaline de Nathalie, et ça le fait vraiment bien! Instrumentalement, les parties de guitare sont assez intéressantes, avec une rythmique assez lourde et des solos très mélodiques et mélancoliques aux sonorités quand même assez heavy. Le tout dégage une atmosphère assez envoûtante, d'autant que la plupart des compos sont très bien inspirées. Mention particulière pour l'excellent "Against the emptiness" et l'instrumental "Der todesking", vraiment excellents.

A signaler également une production excellente, très professionnelle pour un groupe qui débute. C'est impressionnant la clarté du son, chaque instrument est mis en valeur (même la basse, ce qui est rare).
Et dire que l'album a été produit dans un petit studio de la région parisienne! Y a même pas besoin d'aller en Suède ou en Finlande pour avoir un bon son, finalement, on a de bons studios aussi de par chez nous, et de nombreux groupes français devraient s'en inspirer.

Bref, avec ce "Talvi", Anthemon n'a rien à envier aux formations les plus célèbres du genre, et ils se posent comme une des valeurs montantes de la scène metal française. Lorsqu'ils seront sur un bon label (ils le méritent amplement), ils pourront aller loin.
A surveiller de très près!