Chapter XVI

It's still the Olympics and so of course we're still in Paris. In honour of the games this week marks part 2 of our 3-part French special and we’ve got some equally medal-worthy recommendations for you - can you guess where we're leading to in the final part?

The Chorus

It's difficult to pin Elyose down into a particular metal genre because they offer such a perfectly crafted melting pot of gothic, symphonic, industrial and nu to name a few. Their 2023 album Déviante opens with Ils t’ont dit showcasing the breadth of those musical sub-genres blended seemlessly with clever anti-conformist ideas. The heavy industrial rhythms on Vendredi Noir underpin a range of vocal styles and layered lyrics. L’Assemblée, which features guest vocals from Cocozher, takes us right back to the early days of experimenting with the possibilities of nu-metal whislt still managing to inject new life into the music. If you enjoy this album as much as we do then check out their debut record Ipso Facto which is also brilliant!

The Champion - II

After recommending his younger brother Mario last week, naturally we had to follow up with Gojira’s other founding half Joe Duplantier. An all-rounder who could be deployed in several places around your pentacle we're recommending him in position II as your axeman. That way you can make the most his vocals and lyricism to compliment your other Champions. Paris-born Joe began mastering his chosen instrument from the age of 14 but is also an accomplished singer and bassist. Besides his incredible career with Gojira he was a founding member of Empalot, also with his brother Mario, and played bass for Cavalera Conspiracy. Those parts of his life that aren’t given over to music are focussed on his impressive environmental activism. To top it all off he even owns a record studio - maybe he'll let you use it for your supergroup if you ask nicely?

The Curse

La Bête du Gévaudan has been recorded as ravaging South-Central France since 1764. It was also recorded as having been slain first in 1765 and then later in 1767. Don’t trust the records, this monstrous beast is quite evidently alive(ish) and well as it enters your summoning pentacle. Do you even want to bind a creature this evil? It might not have much to offer you in the way of inheritable abilities. Maybe La Bête’s unnaturally long bound would be useful in moving about the larger stages you find yourself performing on. It's uncanny ability to evade death and recorded(!) resistance to bullets would be useful to almost anyone but is it worth the trade-off of developing a hunger for 18th century French townsfolk?