Chapter XV

Paris has apparently become a ‘city of metal’ in the course of the preparations for the Olympics which begin this Friday. Naturally we’ve interpreted ‘metal’ in the only way we know how and provided you with our very best French recommendations this week. Bon chance!

The Chorus

We’ve delved right back to the early 2000s to bring you this nu metal gem. The debut album Street Trash from collective Enhancer features several vocalists duelling different styles over heavy riffs. The fact that French is probably the best language to rap in is how this record elevates itself above the genre. The intro to Peu Import catches you off guard almost as much as the breakdown outro. Cinglés lays a brilliant metaphor over a powerful, chanted chorus. Pas Sommeil is the album’s masterpiece weaving dreamy imagery with a haunting melody. If you're not already a francophone this is the album that will make you want to learn the language. If you are, you'll hopefully enjoy the subtle injections of comedy into the tracks.

The Champion - IV

Four-time world number one ranked metal drummer Mario Duplantier found his calling aged eleven. Three years later the Bayonne-born beats-per-minute master founded metal legends Gojira (née Godzilla); his technical precision and unique cross-genre stylings have been formed the backbone of the band's sound. In fact Mario's polyrhythmic patterns are usually the foundation on which Gojira’s tracks are written. A virtuoso of various metal genres and a relentless refiner of the instrument, it's no wonder he has accumulated the accolades he has. We can't think of anyone more deserving of position IV on your pentacle.

The Curse

It's been quite sometime since anyone has seen a Tarasque so we hope you're prepared. The lurking Provençale beast has been described variously by differing accounts as part dragon, lion, serpent, tortoise, ox and horse but all agree it is monstrous. A ferocious roar and hardened exterior would both be useful traits for someone looking to conquer the musical landscape. Sword-like teeth? Not so much. You might hope you can convince the Tarasque to only impart the beneficial attributes but that's not usually how this works. Look on the bright-side bladetooth, it could be worse.