Stranger Fruit

Zeal & Ardor

Released on 6/8/18 by MVKA
Main artists: Zeal & Ardor
Genre: Metal

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This is typically the kind of album whose subtlety and richness can’t quite be experienced without Hi-Res Audio. The association of Swiss artist Manuel Gagneux (on vocals and involved in pretty much everything else) and Austrian producer and guitarist Sebastian “Zebo” Adam was optimised by the expert mixing talent of Kurt Ballou, who has worked with Converge (but also Kvelertak, Cave In, Nails, Chelsea Wolfe, The Dillinger Escape Plan and a dozen others). Therefore, this second opus immediately contrasts with the patch-up jobs of the nonetheless impressive Devil Is Fine. The improbable mix of black metal and gospel turns out to be as wise as it is diabolically effective. Speaking of the devil, in Zeal And Ardor’s universe, it seems some slaves have chosen to invoke Satan instead of praising God. Often oppressive, Stranger Fruit is a reference to the song made popular by Billie Holliday and later transcended by Nina Simone (Strange Fruit), but it also evokes a disturbing dark mass somewhere in the oozing swamps of Louisiana.

To relieve some of this suffocating atmosphere – imagine what a side project involving both the Blind Boys Of Alabama and Emperor would be like −, the album is punctuated with a few atmospheric – and much welcome − electro interludes, even if they may seem slightly off-topic to purists’ ears. In fact, they provide a connection to Gagneux’s other musical life. After an atmospheric bluesy intro, this “stranger fruit” starts off with two powerful blues rock tracks (why not “blues metal”), Gravedigger's Chant and Servants, followed by dark and vehement titles (Fire of Motion, Waste, We Can't Be Found) and more convoluted compositions expertly mixing all of this together (Don't You Dare, Row Row, Ship on Fire). More experimental (if that’s even possible), Stranger Fruit opens the door to new orientations, experimenting towards a more industrial style of “a-la Trent Reznor” music, while the more melodic Built on Ashes reminds us that, as the intense finale, the drive behind this exceptional project first and foremost is emotion. A fruit to be enjoyed before the Almighty decides to forbid it for being too subversive. © Jean-Pierre Sabouret/Qobuz

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Stranger Fruit

Zeal & Ardor

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