Salaman Isku - 2017 - Le Voyage Nocturne

(29:10; Bitume)

Track list:
1. Le Crepuscule 3:49
2. L'Initiation 4:00
3. Le Voyage Nocturne 5:43
4. La Contemplation 5:38
5. Le Reve 5:07
6. L'Aurore 4:53

Line-up:
Julien J. Neuville - vocals, all instruments


Prolusion.
French project Salaman Isku is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Julien J. Neuville. Following an initial self-titled EP the album "Le Voyage Nocturne" was self released as a digital album back in 2017. A few more years down the line Neuville hooked up with French label Bitume, who reissued the album on CD now in the summer of 2023.

Analysis.
The music on this production is described as psychedelic metal, which is a description that certainly made me take interest. In this case my impression is that this description at best is only partially correct though, as one exception aside I find this album to be much more straightforward in nature than what the psychedelic moniker indicates.

It is more of an atmospheric laden creation we get here, with some songs featuring pacier elements closer to thrash metal while others feature occasional extreme metal surges, but where everything else stays safely inside of a more traditional and straight forward heavy metal expression. We do get some more subtle flavoring by way of harmony guitar overlays and guitar solo runs, and the addition of what sounds like a harp in one song and a recorder in another does add a more delicate dimension to the proceedings though, and the concluding phase of the songs tends to be more delicate and mood oriented than the parts prior to this conclusion too.

The one song that is the exception here is the concluding 'L'Aurore', a creation that ebb and flow between more powerful riffs and more delicate and slightly off kilter careful guitar details. On this composition the psychedelic elements are very much present too, and while not ever entering any cosmic displays or otherworldly territories we do get the unusual tones and timbres of the kind that will always be described as psychedelic in nature as a defining presence on this cut.

Conclusion.
"Le Voyage Nocturne" strikes me as being very much of a niche album. The mainly straight forward compositions, spoken style vocals and distinct landscapes explored here are ones that I just don't see will have a substantial reach or appeal. The case of having a distinct sound and expression is that there will always be a niche audience around that find such niche endeavors to be substantially more interesting than more broadly appealing material though, and it is for those who recognize themselves in such a description and that also tend to find atmospheric laden heavy metal landscapes to be generally interesting that I suspect this album will find it's main audience.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, June 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/bitumeprods