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Peste Noire, taking their name from the Black Plague, is a black metal band from La Chaise-Dieu, France. It was formed by La sale Famine de Valfunde in 2000. Their music utilises standard black metal elements mixed with more traditional gallic instrumentation. The band is sometimes referred to as P.N. or K.P.N (Kommando Peste Noire). According to Famine, they play "National Satanist Black Metal". == Band history == Peste Noire was created by La sale Famine de Valfunde (i.e. "The filthy Famine of Valfunde") in Avignon in 2000, initially under the name Dor Daedeloth. Neige (Alcest), who played in the band's first eight years of existence, joined him on drums.〔Neige declared: ''"I was only a guest in (Noire ) as I played drums for him (), but I did/do not share his views at all. Don't even ask me about the concept behind (Noire ), it is very complex. It was basically the exact opposite of Alcest: love for evil, but in a real way."'' 〕〔Neige also said:''« In Peste Noire I didn’t write anything. »'' 〕 Together they crafted four demos and one split demo tape. Argoth, a bass player also member of early Alcest fame, helped up to the 2002 "Mémoire Païenne" split. 〔Famine (then known as Aegnor/Feu Cruel) would also be the lead guitarist on Alcest's first demo tape "Tristesse Hivernale" released on 2001 through Drakkar Productions in which he wrote the main riff of the song "La forêt de Cristal".〕 In 2006, Famine hired new members Winterhalter (drums) and Indria (bass). They completed what Famine began to call "Kommando Peste Noire".〔 At the time, Famine had fired Neige from the band〔〔 and P.N. was a three-piece when the debut ''La Sanie des siècles - Panégyrique de la dégénérescence'' was produced by French label De profundis éditions in August 2006.〔(''De profundis éditions'' )〕〔Its title roughly translates as "The sanies of the centuries - Ode to degeneration", "sanies" being ''"a thin greenish foul-smelling discharge from a wound, ulcer, etc., containing pus and blood"'' according to the Collins English Dictionary〕 The music on their first effort was mostly melodic and sorrowful, turning at times towards a more aggressive and chaotic sound within lengthy and elaborate song structures. With hymns such as "Dueil Angoisseus", "Spleen", or "Le Mort Joyeux", the record caused a stir in the underground black metal scene. It helped establish the band on an international level.〔(Brett Buckle, The Metal Crypt, ''Review: Peste Noire - La Sanie des Siècles - Panégyrique de la Dégénérescence'', 7 February 2009 )〕 De profundis éditions〔 produced Peste Noire's second album ''Folkfuck Folie'', released in June 2007. It featured studio versions of the four "rehearsal" tracks from the ''"Lorraine Rehearsal"'' and Famine described it as "Folklore d’égout"〔In ''Folkfuck Folie'' 's cd booklet, 18 June 2007〕 ("Folklore from the sewers"). It was recorded on a tape machine, in the same way punks produced their albums in the 80s, thereby showing the band's disregard for conventions.〔(Degtyarov, Black Ivory Tower, ''Peste Noire: Folkfuck Folie'', 19 January 2012 )〕 The lyrics sometimes seem on the verge of autobiography, and they mainly deal with apocalyptic themes, the final triumph of the body over the torments of the mind, primal barbarity, wartime poetry, the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases, and mental disorder, the latter of which is symbolized by the radio sample of the demented poet Antonin Artaud used as an introduction to the track "Folkfuck Folie".〔(Degtyarov, Black Ivory Tower, ''Peste Noire lyrics in English'', 22 December 2013 )〕〔(Travis, Transcending Obscurity, ''Peste Noire: Folkfuck Folie'', 20 December 2007 )〕 The songs are generally shorter than on their debut and the production has a much grittier quality. Famine ironically said that his goal was ''"to create the ugliest and most irritating sound possible, in order make the album unlistenable after having heard two songs" '', adding '' "You have to be mentally unstable to go through the entire album" ''.〔 In his own words, ''Folkfuck Folie'' was an attempt to weed out the “trendies” in their audience, which put Peste Noire on the map as one of the most rebellious and unconventional act in the genre. Unsurprisingly, there appears to be a widespread popular stigma surrounding this particular release.〔(Angel, Sputnik music, ''Peste Noire: Folkfuck Folie'', 11 May 2011 )〕 In March 2009, Peste Noire released their third album ''Ballade cuntre lo Anemi francor'' (i.e. "Ballad against the enemies of France") with a new line-up; drummer A. (from Darvulia) and bass player Ragondin filled the chairs vacated by Neige, Winterhalter and Indria. This album, whose main theme is based on the nostalgia for medieval France manifested through traditional military songs or royal chants with warlike, nationalistic lyrics, is reminiscent in sound of the P.N. demos, but the style has evolved into a mix of black metal and progressive folk, with crust and hard rock rhythms.〔(autothrall, From the Dust Returned, ''Peste Noire: Ballade cuntre lo Anemi francor'', 29 September 2009 )〕 It also features piano / Hammond organ interludes played by Sainte Audrey-Yolande de la Molteverge, who is also responsible for the female vocals, notably on Peste Noire's interpretation of one of the Action Française's Monarchist anthems, "La France bouge".〔(Tyler Munro, Sputnik music, ''Peste Noire: Ballade cuntre lo Anemi francor'', 5 April 2009 )〕 Unlike the previous two albums which had been captured in the Rosenkrantz studios, ''Ballade'' was recorded with intentional simplicity and sloppiness by Famine on his own equipment, in order to fit with the general national romantic aesthetics〔(Degtyarov, Black Ivory Tower, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 26 July 2011 )〕 and the production was kept lo-fi and raw.〔(Brett Buckle, The Metal Crypt, ''Peste Noire: Ballade cuntre lo Anemi francor'' ), 13 April 2009〕 Famine, still living up to his controversial reputation,〔(Bari Ann, ThisIsNotAScene, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 10 November 2011 )〕 characterized this unique style as "Boyscout satanism" in a very typically French fashion.〔 Following their tradition of using the works of medieval French authors and poets in their albums, P.N. also adapted the 14th-century French poet, thief and vagabond François Villon's poem "Ballade contre les ennemis de la France" into a black metal version, entitled "Ballade cuntre les anemis de la France", as well as 19th century fin de siècle poet Paul Verlaine's piece "Soleils Couchants" - both these poets' roguish, low-life aesthetic being perfectly suited for Famine’s purposes.〔(ATC, Sputnik music, ''Peste Noire: Ballade cuntre lo Anemi francor'', 4 April 2009 )〕 Having relocated to Auvergne, Famine created his own label, La mesnie Herlequin, in May 2011 to release the band's fourth effort: the folkish and carnivalesque〔Chris, The Metal Observer, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 8 February 2012〕 ''L'Ordure à l'état Pur'' ("The pure essence of garbage").〔(Johnathan A. Carbon, Chronicles of Chaos, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 23 July 2011 )〕〔(R. Schleim, Art Observations With Jerry Magoo, ''The Pure Essence of Garbage'', 16 June 2011 )〕 The album's cover artwork displays a graffitied version of Eugène Delacroix's ''Liberty Leading the People'' where the allegorical figure of Liberty is parodied as a decaying, walking corpse and Gavroche pictured as a one-eyed pig, whilst another figure has a toilet seat for a head - all of which heralds a new French Revolution with different protagonists and ideals. Notre Dame de Paris is also replaced by the World Trade Center's smoking Twin Towers.〔(ThyCrossAwaits, Sputnik music, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 26 May 2011 )〕 The album, which benefits from a warm and crisp production,〔(SwornToTheBlack, Global Domination, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 27 March 2011 )〕 was recorded and mixed between August 2010 and January 2011 at the Green Studio (Fr) by Engwar. It saw the return of bass guitarist Indria and the recruitment of a new drummer, Vicomte Chtedire de Kroumpadis, as well as the integration of a cellist, an accordionist and a trombonist to enhance the various atmospheres or folkish aspects of some of the songs, such as the trombone-driven ska punk and accordion folk song intermezzi in "Casse, Pêches, Fractures et Traditions".〔(Michael Patrick Nelson, Steady Diet of Noise, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 8 June 2011 )〕 A large amount of stylistic influences pervade the five songs, from the industrial black metal-orientated "Cochon Carotte et les soeurs Crotte" with its zouk intermezzo highlighted by Indria's fretless bass solo, or the rockish dirge "La Condi Hu" underpinned by haunting cellos〔(Dark Emperor, Infernal Masquerade, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 9 August 2011 )〕 and introduced by brooding monk-like chants, to the rich, medieval and emotional épinette des Vosges melodies on "J'avais rêvé du Nord" ("I had dreamt of the North").〔(Mr. Doctor, Metal Storm, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 24 December 2011 )〕 The traditional/folkish and acoustic elements, including Audrey Sylvain's fragile vocals, are pitted against the more modern aspects of ''L'Ordure à l'état Pur'',〔(RingMaster, Adequacy.net, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 14 June 2011 )〕 an album packed with samples of urban violence culled from French TV news reports, ambulance sirens, riots, guns being cocked and shots being fired, and BDSM performed over Eurodance beats, displayed on long, drawn out cinematic songs. All of which together paint a giant fresco of hopelessness, a brutal documentary of collective decomposition.〔〔(Chase, The Inarguable, ''Peste Noire: L'Ordure à l'état Pur'', 16 June 2011 )〕 The band's fifth album, simply entitled ''Peste Noire'', was released in June 2013 on the label La mesnie Herlequin. It was entirely composed, recorded and mixed by Famine from September 2012 to February 2013 at his home studio in the Auvergne, itself called "La mesnie Herlequin studio". The new line-up revolves around Famine (vocals, guitars, bass, various drums, bells ...) and Ardraos (drums, accordion), plus a plethora of guests.〔(Degtyarov, Black Ivory Tower, ''Peste Noire 2013: Crusade in Combat Boots'', 30 June 2013 )〕 These include additional vocalists (from the more typical Swedish black metal vocals of Ravenlord and Melkor of "Woods of Infinity" and the Ukrainian death growls of Hate Forest/Drudkh's Roman Saenko, to Audrey Sylvain's clean female vocals), as well as additional instrumental musicians; some of which enrich the album with more traditional/folk influences (such as accordion, hurdy-gurdy, flute), some more classical (i.e. cello), and others just downright strange (e.g. carnyx, lituus).〔(Klemi, Kaleidoscope magazine, The chosen three: July 2013, 7 August 2013 )〕 The album, which is anti-urban ("Niquez vos villes" (fuck your cities )), explores themes of local history, notably of the legends ("Le clebs noir de Pontgibaud" (black mutt/dog of Pontgibaud )) and literature ("Démonarque") of the Auvergne, by providing a reinterpretation of a Crusade song from the thirteenth century troubadour Gauceran de Saint-Leidier hailing from the Bishopric of Velay, as well as delving into national Medieval history ("La bêche et l'épée contre l'usurier" (spade and the sword against the usurer )), and that of the beginning of the 1940s ("Le retour de la peste" (return of the plague )).〔(Victoria Rullman, Metalpaths webzine, ''Peste Noire'', 7 September 2013 )〕 Famine also tries his hand at pure Oi! as demonstrated on the track "La Blonde" (the Blond), dedicated to beer.〔(Ian Flick, Don't Count On It Reviews, ''Peste Noire - Peste Noire (2013)'', 12 November 2013 )〕 In July 2014 a collaborative split 12 inch LP was forged with Parisian group Diapsiquir, called ''Rats des Villes VS Rats des Champs'' ("City Rats VS Country Rats" ), released by La mesnie Herlequin. Peste Noire took the famous poem "Le rat de ville et le rat des champs" by Jean de La Fontaine as its main inspiration behind the split's title.〔(Marcus Goulaart, Metal Maniac, ''Peste Noire/Diapsiquir : Rats des villes vs rats des Champs'' review, 16 October 2014 )〕 Some perceived this release as the confrontation of two irreconcilable worlds; However Famine talks of Diapsiquir as the group which best embodies contemporary urban France, and so is the one which is most symbolically appropriate to oppose his rural black metal.〔 ''La Chaise-Dyable'', the band's sixth album, recorded once again by Famine in "La mesnie Herlequin studio" with the support of drummer / accordionist Ardraos, saw the light of day in April 2015. In black metal that sees frenetic electric guitars ("Payés sur la bête") vying with acoustic and bucolic lulls ("Avant le putsch"),〔(theheavymetalist, TeenInk, ''La Chaise-Dyable by Peste Noire'', 12 August 2015 )〕 Famine continues to anchor his themes in everyday life.〔(Maximus Meyer, Black Ivory Tower, ''The Devil’s Putsch'', 4 June 2015 )〕 He recounts the loneliness of rural nights ("À la Chaise-Dyable"), the harsh climate of the Livradois and of his ethylic flights of fancy to flee from them ("Quand je bois du vin", a drinking song featuring Audrey inspired by a sixteenth century's Tourdion).〔(Marcus, Metal Maniac, ''Peste Noire - La Chaise-Dyable'', 29 April 2015 )〕 In lyrics both hallucinatory ("Le Diable existe"), and fantastical ("Le dernier putsch"), his village La Chaise-Dieu (from the Occitan "''Chasa Dieu''", literally "House of God") becomes "La Chaise-Dyable", a bastion haunted by the Devil where coups against the capital are fermented. In a first for the group, the second version of the song "Dans ma nuit" was the subject of a professional music video directed by ''Anaon Productions''.〔(Myrme le Bossu, Anaon Productions, '' Peste Noire Dans ma nuit'', 2 December 2014 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Peste Noire」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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