Inspired by the frost-bitten regions of Québec, the title of Cantique Lépreux’s second full-length directly translates to “polar landscapes,” exploring a recurring theme of the icy wilderness which makes up the majority of the band’s homeland.
Musically, Paysages polaires continues the nostalgic path laid out with the frosty, archaic tunes from the band’s debut album as the record carves itself into another 45-minutes of darkness, misery and gloom. Cold black metal for the ages, Paysages polaires' stirring anthems – with a sharper and more direct songwriting approach - lead the way throughout the sophomore album’s seven hypothermic tracks.
Based on fast and atmospheric black metal, Paysages polaires balances between beautiful and harsh dirges in combination with the conceptual middle trifold of songs based around the North American winter. The passionate Québécois carry a secret fire of stellar splendor as Cantique Lépreux reveals a wild black metal monument set in ice and stone."
Recording and mixing by Blanc Feu. Percussions recorded by François C. Fortin at La Boîte Noire Studio. Final mixing and mastering by G. of Eos. Vinyl master by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios. Photographs by Cadavre and Blanc Feu. Lyrics by Blanc Feu, except the three "Paysages polaires" that were written by the Québécois poet René Chopin (1885-1953)
Cover painting by Gabriel Loppé (1825-1913), "Crevasses on the Glacier du Géant - Mont Blanc Massif" (1896).
Tracklist:
1.Le feu secret 08:13
2.Les étoiles endeuillées 05:56
3.Paysages polaires I 05:41
4.Paysages polaires II 05:30
5.Paysages polaires III 07:09
6.Hélas… 04:50
7.Le fléau 08:14
