Crowning/Marée Noire - Split

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 30 Oct 2018

Tracklist:

1. Marée Noire - Laurence

2. Crowning - Julius Breezer

3. Marée Noire - Pervitin

4. Crowning - Narcissus

5. Marée Noire - Toucher La Lune

6. Crowning - Trakata

Things have been a little quiet at TNIO towers of late. Life has been a bit weird and consumption of music has been down a bit. I hate the words "consumption and consuming" though because music isn't a commodity for me. It's a living, breathing entity that moves to it's own rhythm. I'm back this evening with a familiar post though, as I jump back into my ongoing Zegema Beach Records review series.

This review features the 2018 split release from US band Crowning whom Dave Cullen (one half of ZBR) is a member of and French Canadians Marée Noire. This split is unique though due to the fact that both bands follow one another, instead of having distinct sides.

Marée Noire opens this split release with ‘Laurence’ with a somewhat angular, metallic screamo approach that leans further into the realms of mathy, technical post-hardcore. Crowning follows with ‘Julius Breezer’, which is very melodic, much heavier and in-your-face. Both bands instantly impress with short and sharp bursts of energy that lay foundations for what’s to come here.

Talking of what’s to come, the rest of the songs on this split are a lot shorter starting with Marée Noire’s ‘Pervitin’, which builds into something a lot more intense in sound. Noisier with tons of urgency and loads of melody as well. Crowning’s next song ‘Narcissus’ is a very brief panic-chord laden blast but a satisfying one. I find that a lot of sub-thirty second songs go by without making an impression. It’s not the case here.

Marée Noire’s ‘Toucher La Lune’ is their last on this split and it takes you on a journey. It’s like the angular screamo of Marée Noire helps to create different movements throughout the song. Crowning’s ‘Trakata’ ends the split bathed in atmosphere thanks to the guitars. At times it reminds me of old mid-2000’s metalcore.

The way each band follows the other on this split instead of just having their own designated side works great here and I don’t know why more don’t do it. It highlights the skill of both Marée Noire and Crowning brilliantly. 

Stream and purchase the split digitally below:-

Crowning - https://www.facebook.com/crowningband

Marée Noire - https://www.facebook.com/yohannRocksScreamo

Unsurprisingly, tape copies are long sold out.

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords