Chasse-Galerie - Black Metal from Quebec

Hi guys!

I hope you're doing well!

I have not posted anything for a while now, I had a huge rush at work before leaving for Canada, and then, my holidays took all my time. When you see your family and friends once a year, you focus on them when you have the chance to!

Since I am still in Canada for few days, I thought I would write a post on a band from Quebec City, where I used to live for about 8 years.  Also, the band is planning a European tour in April (with few dates in Munich!), so you might hear of them in a near future. So here it is, Chasse-Galerie!



I know this band for a long time, I studied with the guitarist, Matrak. The band, the music and the ideology are very interesting, even if you disagree with them, or you don't get it. I say that because of the very heavy nationalist/separatist political ideas we find in the band. First, the name. Chasse-Galerie is an important tale in the French-Canadian heritage. There are many variations of the legend, and I won't go into details, but it's the story of men working at a remote timber camp who wanted to visit their sweethearts. They then make a deal with the Devil to be able to run the Chasse-Galerie, a flying canoe, which was the only way to go and to be back fast enough.

The name of the band represents the main topic of their songs: the French-Canadian identity and culture. The lyrics are in French, obviously, but if you're only interested to the sound, it's not a problem if you don't know the language. After all, we don't really understand the words when a Black Metal singer is growling. But not understanding these lyrics is missing a major point. And amazing texts.

But if you do know French, you should definitely read the lyrics, all of them. You'll see how poetic, powerful and very engaged the texts are. The members of the band play with words and have a fine knowledge of the language. It's great to see smart and beautiful texts.

On the music itself, I find their harmony very clear, neither too fast, nor too slow. Can I say I find this Black Metal "pleasant"? If you take away the growling, their sound is very nice, and not very aggressive. I think the voice gives the real Black Metal side, because their sound is so clear.

Combined with Saeculum Obscurum from Munich (read my post about them here), Chasse-Galerie is a good introduction to Black Metal.

You can go on the Reverbnation page and give it a try, you'll love it!

They are under the label "Hymnes d'Antan", which is managed by my friend Matrak. If you want to know more about the Black Metal scene of Quebec, have a look at their website! Everything is in French, but you can write to Matrak, his English is very good!

See ya in Munich!

Cheers! \m/