Review Summary: While the band may have transitioned to more melodic songwriting, this is still Bisbaye we are talking about.
Bisbaye is one oddball of a band. While it’s true that they are not very well known, these dudes have been making some of the most innovative djent since 2001. They take the core elements of djent and ramp it up as much as possible, leaving a very tight but disorienting sound to the untrained ear. The constant quick stop-and-go riffage along with two drummers and a rumbling bass may sound like a bit much, but Bisbaye knows how to refine it into something great.
The one complaint about this album is how low the two drummers are in the mix. On previous Bisbaye albums the drums were just as important as the rest of the instruments. It helps create that intense and confusing complexity that keeps everything forward, but sadly that’s been left to the wayside to focus more on the stop-and-go riffs. But almost everything else is about the best the band could do for this change in their sound.
I think that this change up was to make their sound a bit more accessible, as Creosote is a test in restraint. Again, a new approach from a band who before just went full speed ahead right away. In Creosote’s case, it works pretty well and lulls the listener in without shutting them off completely.
The title track, on the other hand, kind of fails in this regard. It focuses too much on generically slow and melodic riffs, and goes for too long at seven minutes. The bare essence of their sound isn't there, which makes this feel like a waste of time compared to the other tracks. I can see why others might argue that it makes it more accessible for the new listener, but not for me.
After this, the album picks up a whole lot more. It kind of gets better the more you listen to it, with the band slowly getting rid of restraint. Resister is an excellent example of this, with the band being as confusing as possible, this time with little distortion. A nice break from this is Soliton, which feels like a more fleshed out version of the title track.
The same can be said for the closer, Caustique, with the melodies working with the pummeling main chorus.
Basically, the band is striving for a more accessible sound yet not losing sight of what makes them unique. Distortion is left for a more light tone, but this record shows how out there Bisbaye’s songwriting is. Even with a shake up, they can still serve a mostly consistent record after 20 years together.
Recommended Tracks: Résister, Le Bienfait Devient Fleau, Soliton, Caustique
