« Can two apparently distant genres like European Black Metal and overseas Country collide in an explosive, superhuman/Nietzschean and identitarian sound form? Judging by “Ballades d’Outre-Tombe”, the new album by The Pale Riders, it seems that this has already happened and the results are surprising. It is a collaboration between the American Paul Waggener and the French group Baise Ma Hache. The first, in addition to being active in several bands such as Hunter’s Ground, Lord Furious and Werewolf Command, is known for being the founder of the etenist folkish community “The Wolves of Vinland”, as well as the initiator of the Operation Werewolf project. Baise Ma Hache, on the other hand, are one of the best identitarian Black Metal bands from France, from Haute-Savoie to be precise.
The Pale Riders had already released L’Appel Du Vide in 2020, the first album that tested a formula that “Ballades d’Outre-Tombe” perfects in what is one of the best releases of the year so far. Imagine a cross between Peste Noire, Deströyer 666 and the Country of the deep and forgotten America that finally raises its head: all this and much more are The Pale Riders, neo-pagan knights/cowboys who, having emerged from the afterlife, ride roaring motorcycles towards the sunset, a brotherhood of real men standing on the ruins of the West.
The album also features, in addition to Waggener and Baise Ma Hache (Thorwald and Jon) of Matt Thyssen, Mo Michaely (Mahr) and David Lee Archer.
From the opening of the album with “Apocalypse Gringos” we are transported into a western atmosphere that smells of leather, blood and gasoline. The whole thing is soon overwhelmed by guitars and screams in French. Harsh Black Metal sounds alternate with dirty overseas folk that maintains all its epic charge of Man's challenge against the world. "Old World Tombs (Les Tombeaux du Vieux Monde)" continues in the same vein with a true hymn of revolt against the modern world:
Reclus dans les tombeaux du Vieux Monde
Mille colères ancestrales s’unissent et grondent.
Dans les tombeaux du Vieux Monde
L’esprit souffle où il le désir,
Les cœurs s’accélèrent… ou succombent.
We continue with "Le Bivouac des Morts (de Théodore O’Hara)" a tribute to Théodore O’Hara, soldier poet, participant in the Mexican-American War and Confederate colonel in the American Civil War. The latter is a theme that often returns in The Pale Riders' songs. The beautiful "New Dark", on the other hand, is a frontier hymn to true freedom, beyond death: "Body go down, set my spirit free".
One of the best episodes, in any case, is "Black Frontiers (Ode à la Chouanerie Sudiste)". Here a sort of meta-historical parallel is created between the French Chouannerie (guerres de l'Ouest) and the American civil war. The black frontiers here become a powerful symbol of another West, not weak and decadent, but a wild place, where the power of man rises from his own ashes and always projects forward. Not forgetting their origins in old Europe, the pale riders come down from the hills with weapons in hand to take everything back:
We'll stay true,
Yeah we'll always be true!
Old Banners, Old Brothers, Old Ways!
The Country ballad “As Fast As I Can” follows, dedicated to all those honest criminals of the Wild West that we have learned to love, and “Plaines Ouest I & II” that once again leaves us running towards the western plains, symbol of the new frontier. This song also perfectly combines epic biker/berserk and Black Metal atmospheres, which emerge especially in the second part in French.
The last part of the work costs two gems. The first is the very violent “Pitbull.44” worthy of the best and true blacksters from beyond the Alps. It is further confirmation, if ever there was any need, that Baise Ma Hache take no prisoners and the union with Paul Waggener is pure sonic hypertrophy. The whole thing ends with “Lost Highway Knights”, an adrenaline-filled piece with guitars that seem like lightning bolts thrown from a black sky. A chorus rises above everything:
Sang, Rouille
Ombre et Poussière !
The Pale Riders had already released L’Appel Du Vide in 2020, the first album that tested a formula that “Ballades d’Outre-Tombe” perfects in what is one of the best releases of the year so far. Imagine a cross between Peste Noire, Deströyer 666 and the Country of the deep and forgotten America that finally raises its head: all this and much more are The Pale Riders, neo-pagan knights/cowboys who, having emerged from the afterlife, ride roaring motorcycles towards the sunset, a brotherhood of real men standing on the ruins of the West.
The album also features, in addition to Waggener and Baise Ma Hache (Thorwald and Jon) of Matt Thyssen, Mo Michaely (Mahr) and David Lee Archer.
From the opening of the album with “Apocalypse Gringos” we are transported into a western atmosphere that smells of leather, blood and gasoline. The whole thing is soon overwhelmed by guitars and screams in French. Harsh Black Metal sounds alternate with dirty overseas folk that maintains all its epic charge of Man's challenge against the world. "Old World Tombs (Les Tombeaux du Vieux Monde)" continues in the same vein with a true hymn of revolt against the modern world:
Reclus dans les tombeaux du Vieux Monde
Mille colères ancestrales s’unissent et grondent.
Dans les tombeaux du Vieux Monde
L’esprit souffle où il le désir,
Les cœurs s’accélèrent… ou succombent.
We continue with "Le Bivouac des Morts (de Théodore O’Hara)" a tribute to Théodore O’Hara, soldier poet, participant in the Mexican-American War and Confederate colonel in the American Civil War. The latter is a theme that often returns in The Pale Riders' songs. The beautiful "New Dark", on the other hand, is a frontier hymn to true freedom, beyond death: "Body go down, set my spirit free".
One of the best episodes, in any case, is "Black Frontiers (Ode à la Chouanerie Sudiste)". Here a sort of meta-historical parallel is created between the French Chouannerie (guerres de l'Ouest) and the American civil war. The black frontiers here become a powerful symbol of another West, not weak and decadent, but a wild place, where the power of man rises from his own ashes and always projects forward. Not forgetting their origins in old Europe, the pale riders come down from the hills with weapons in hand to take everything back:
We'll stay true,
Yeah we'll always be true!
Old Banners, Old Brothers, Old Ways!
The Country ballad “As Fast As I Can” follows, dedicated to all those honest criminals of the Wild West that we have learned to love, and “Plaines Ouest I & II” that once again leaves us running towards the western plains, symbol of the new frontier. This song also perfectly combines epic biker/berserk and Black Metal atmospheres, which emerge especially in the second part in French.
The last part of the work costs two gems. The first is the very violent “Pitbull.44” worthy of the best and true blacksters from beyond the Alps. It is further confirmation, if ever there was any need, that Baise Ma Hache take no prisoners and the union with Paul Waggener is pure sonic hypertrophy. The whole thing ends with “Lost Highway Knights”, an adrenaline-filled piece with guitars that seem like lightning bolts thrown from a black sky. A chorus rises above everything:
Sang, Rouille
Ombre et Poussière !
En avant la Vie,
L’Amour et la Mort.
The Pale Riders demonstrate how Europe and North America (Vinland) have a common mythology that sinks its fangs into the cult of strength and conquest, between past and future. “Ballades d’Outre-Tombe” is a candidate to be the album of the year, perfect for riding the times we are living in, not only remaining standing but also continuing to advance. The artwork of the work is taken care of in the smallest details and we can only warmly recommend it in its physical form on double vinyl or CD format. It is a meritorious project that undoubtedly must be supported.»
L’Amour et la Mort.
The Pale Riders demonstrate how Europe and North America (Vinland) have a common mythology that sinks its fangs into the cult of strength and conquest, between past and future. “Ballades d’Outre-Tombe” is a candidate to be the album of the year, perfect for riding the times we are living in, not only remaining standing but also continuing to advance. The artwork of the work is taken care of in the smallest details and we can only warmly recommend it in its physical form on double vinyl or CD format. It is a meritorious project that undoubtedly must be supported.»
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Forwarded from Zentropa
“What is life without honor? Degradation is worse than death.”
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
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PayPal isn’t working anymore, they deleted it for the third time in two years.This one lasted a week.
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A MOY QUE CHAULT
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Il y a 5 ans jour pour jour sortait L’Appel du Vide, le premier album des Pale Riders.
Five years ago today, L’Appel du Vide, the debut album by Pale Riders, was released.
Five years ago today, L’Appel du Vide, the debut album by Pale Riders, was released.
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Si tout se passe bien, nous recevrons les précommandes demain dans la journée.
Nous commencerons à traiter les envois mercredi.
Sauf en cas de guerre atomique, toutes les commandes auront été envoyées d’ici le début de la semaine prochaine.
Merci à tous pour votre patience ainsi qu’à votre soutien !
If all goes well, we’ll receive the pre-orders tomorrow.
We’ll start processing the shipments on Wednesday.
Barring a nuclear war, all orders should be shipped by early next week.
Thanks to everyone for your patience and great support!
Nous commencerons à traiter les envois mercredi.
Sauf en cas de guerre atomique, toutes les commandes auront été envoyées d’ici le début de la semaine prochaine.
Merci à tous pour votre patience ainsi qu’à votre soutien !
If all goes well, we’ll receive the pre-orders tomorrow.
We’ll start processing the shipments on Wednesday.
Barring a nuclear war, all orders should be shipped by early next week.
Thanks to everyone for your patience and great support!
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