The Great Old Ones – Kadath

Written by on 02-03-2025 at 20:30.

Time for a new album from French band The Great Old Ones, which after six years was long overdue. Already before the pandemic these Lovecraft enthusiasts went through some lineup changes, with a new bassist, guitarist, and, since 2021, a new drummer. I have to admit that Cosmicism didn’t impress me that much, but perhaps that’s because its predecessor, E.O.D. (A Tale Of Dark Legacy), was just that brilliant. This time the band has chosen a title referencing a key theme in Lovecraft’s novels: mountain Kadath, home to the ‘great old ones.’ Once again we get roughly an hour of music, but that’s what we expect from these gentlemen by now.


I am happy to bear the message that the new album again makes more of an impact. However, casually listening to these Frenchmen is still not an option. Unlike the enigmatic black metal collective the band once was, the focus now lies much more on blending genres to create a denser, more immersive narrative. The transitions are well thought out, and the layering is complex. You’re drawn into a dark story that gradually shifts, requiring time and attention. If you’re looking for easily digestible hits you’re in the wrong place.

You’ll still hear melodic black metal with an old Scandinavian influence, but the progressive elements quickly take over; balancing atmospheric intensity with acoustic and slow-burning passages. The band occasionally pushes the limits of how long they can sustain these slower doom sections or repetitive black metal structures. Yet, I have to admit that for at least half of the time, I find myself fully immersed in this dark narrative, drifting away in this varied masterpiece. The heavy death metal guitar lines, increasingly embraced by The Great Old Ones, are consistently enriched by atmospheric sections, ensuring that the music never devolves into dry death metal. Don’t expect Kadath to be an all-out assault now that I have mentioned death metal – nowhere does this creeping tale blow you off your feet, and that, in my view, gives this band a strong sense of identity.

The Great Old Ones proves once more that it has earned its place and belongs in the Season Of Mist stable — or with Les Acteurs de l’Ombre, where you’ll also find this album. This is experimental black metal for those who don’t care for straightforward, filthy riffs but instead want to dive deep into a storytelling darkness that incorporates everything from Dissection, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, and Fen to Wolves In The Throne Room, with extensions into other genres. Undoubtedly, this will also appeal to those with a soft spot for fellow French acts like Regarde Les Hommes Tomber and Déluge.

Score:

80/100

Label:

Season Of Mist, 2024

Tracklisting:

  1. Me, the Dreamer
  2. Those from Ulthar
  3. In the Mouth of Madness
  4. Under the Sign of Koth
  5. The Gathering
  6. Leng
  7. Astral Void (End of the Dream)

Line-up:

  • Benjamin Guerry – Vocals, guitars
  • Aurélien Edouard – Guitars
  • Alexandre Rouleau – Guitars
  • Benoit Claus – Bass
  • Julian Deana – Drums

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