Hanternoz – A Hed an Noz, a Noz, a Noz

Albums with a story behind them have always had a strong impact on me. I believe the concept is what ultimately defines the emotional weight of any work of art. When that concept is built upon a solid narrative, the work becomes far more compelling.

This is exactly what I found myself thinking while listening to Hanternoz’s latest album, A Hed an Noz, a Noz, a Noz. I was genuinely impressed by its dedication to the concept and its lyrical consistency, as well as its ambition to tell a complete story. This commitment can be felt everywhere, from the artwork selection to the song titles. What we have here is a production deeply tied to its concept, and the amount of thought put into it gives the album a very professional feel. Built around folkloric elements from Brittany, the Celtic-rooted region in northwestern France, the album’s concept immediately draws you into its world. In this regard, we are faced with a truly remarkable and carefully crafted release.

The album’s sound is genuinely beautiful. There is an epic sense of storytelling and melodic choices that perfectly fit the concept; however, these elements never go too far or become exhausting for the listener. As I mentioned earlier, the lyrics and narrative naturally contain folkloric elements, but the overall feeling the album created in me leaned more toward atmospheric black metal. Compared to Hanternoz’s previous works, I consider this album to be a release where the atmospheric side takes precedence over its folkloric character from a musical standpoint. For an incurable atmospheric black metal fan like myself, this was honestly a very welcome direction.

I also have to point this out: the fact that atmospheric black metal is expressed in French makes these albums even more impactful for me. At this point, I would like to highlight the performance of Hyvermor, who handles the vocals. I was highly impressed by the vocal style, the command of his voice, and the emphasis he uses to help convey the album’s epic atmosphere.

As for the songs, the album consists of six tracks with vocals and one instrumental piece, all of moderate length. The flow is arranged so well that it never becomes boring. I especially loved the opening track, "Sur le chemin des fées". If you are a fan of this genre, you will find that it is a song that truly pulls you in and refuses to let go until the very end. I found the way the other tracks complement each other, the album’s loyalty to the storytelling approach I mentioned at the beginning, and the way the pacing follows that narrative to be extremely professional.

My other favorite track on the album is the closing song, "Quand j'ai tué le roi de la forêt". These two songs are definitely among the ones you should add to your playlist. Of course, the other tracks are of a similar quality as well; there are no weak or careless moments on the album. The instrumental traditional piece "Pé toruz war an douar" supports the band’s folkloric style and atmosphere while also making a graceful contribution to the album’s storytelling.

In short, Hanternoz’s third and final studio album absolutely lives up to expectations. It is a wholehearted recommendation from me.

EYLEM

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