CELESTE
Assassine(s)
2022, Nuclear Blast
I do not know any French. I do not know the deeper reasons why every CELESTE album title ends in (s). Moving on, let’s just take some time to refocus on things I do know (it makes me feel better). Assassine(s) is the post-whatever album of the year. Full stop.
Fixing their red head lamps squarely on the listener, CELESTE has always been about excess by way of restraint. It sounds counter intuitive but really isn’t - the compositions on Assassine(s) are fully formed and fully volatile, the fragility of the proceedings threatening at any time to completely implode. That doesn’t happen though. Like a microcosm of our own galaxy, the album simply expands outward, with immense gravity at its swirling vortex centre, radiating in waves over the listener. Assassine(s) is, as is the case with every CELESTE release, best enjoyed as an uninterrupted listening experience. There are no singles here - there is only the whole.
The entirety of the album ebbs and flows with effortless ease, completely immersive in its experience. Tones are explored and exploded, vocals shrill but not unkind, each instrument absolutely singing. The highs are incredible and the depths plumbed immense. As mentioned previously, there are no clear standouts to be found in terms of individual songs - Assassine(s) is a brutal and rewarding experience.
Lately I have had the good fortune of reviewing albums with striking artwork and Assasssine(s) is no exception to that - immediately evocative, the cover art CELESTE has on display is resplendent.
It is difficult to assign a rating to this piece of art and even more difficult to articulate its scope and majesty, the mastery of post-metal is beyond reproach. Seek out Assassine(s).
4.50 Out Of 5.0
