MALEDICTION Condamnes LP BLACK (SEALED)

High Roller Records, reissue 2024, black vinyl, ltd 200, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, poster

Sylvain Mollard - vocals / guitar
Mathieu Poulain - guitar
Olivier Messaoui - bass
Nicolas Mollard - drums

01 Prince Des Ténèbres
02 L'Horloge
03 L'Ange Noir
04 Les Enfants De L'Ombre
05 Le Fils De Satan
06 Condamné
07 Le Masque De Fer
08 Apocalypse

When Malédiction issued their »Condamnés« album on Brennus Music in 2001 (at the time exclusively on CD), reactions by the media and their hard core of fans was enthusiastic. However, traditional heavy metal went through a difficult phase at the beginning of the new millennium, so the band never got the credit they deserved, and disbanded a few years later after a second album entitled »Esclave Du Vice« (2004). Hailing from Laon in Northern France, Sylvain Mollard (guitar/vocals), Mathieu Poulain (guitar), Olivier Messaoui (bass) and Nicolas Mollard (drums) originally got together in September 1997. Starting off with a repertoire of cover versions by songs from Megadeth, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, they soon concentrated on writing their own material (sung in French). In November the same year, the foursome recorded their first demo tape in a hurry (during a two-day session) consisting of five tracks. Spurred on by positive reactions of the music press, Malédiction decided to re-record the five songs from the demo tape at Studio Val D‘Orge between 15th and 24th of January 2021. Two brand new original compositions plus a cover version of “Les Enfants De L’Ombre” (by ADX) were added, and French label Brennus Music consecutively opted to put out the album on compact disc. Musically, songs like “Le Fils De Satan”, “Le Masque De Fer” or “L’Ange Noir” follow in the tradition of Blasphème, Sortilège, or ADX for that matter. The material falls into the category of mid-tempo heavy metal, with galloping riffs and catchy melodies. Singer Sylvain Mollard does a real good job with his melodic vocal style, as does lead guitarist Mathieu Poulain who quite obviously had listened to a lot of Randy Rhoads before he entered the recording studio. Unfortunately, the band which showed a lot of promise split up sometime in the second half of the 2000’s due to frustration caused by lack of public support and missing label backing. Now, High Roller is proud to present the ultimate edition of this undiscovered French metal gem. »Condamnés« is surely up there with the best works of bands like Sortilège, Killers, Attentat Rock or High Power. MATTHIAS MADER