SORTILÈGE / AMON SETHIS (Live)

SORTILÈGE (Live at Le Brin D'Zinc, Barberaz, France. November 19, 2023) — Photo: Séverine Peraldino

After the release of the new album in more than thirty years iconic French Metal band Sortilège had planned to tour the country, before the circumstances forced them to cancel many of these shows. Beaten but never defeated, the band managed to organize again this tour and stopped this November in Barberaz, small town near Chambéry in the French Alps. To support them for this show, Amon Sethis, leading figure of the local scene. Le Brin De Zinc is one of these small venues with a stage stuck in one corner and a bar in the other. It’s one of these places indispensable to the survival of local Metal scene. The show had been sold-out for ages and the place was bursting at the seams.

Amon-Sethis: Tales The 7th Egyptian Dynasty

Amon-Sethis is an ambitious Progressive Power Metal Project, not content with just creating music. From the mind of singer Julien Tournoud was born the mythical tales of Isias (Amon-Sethis) and Ateravis, brothers and enemies, sons of the fabled Egyptian Queen Nitocris.

With three albums behind them, and one to be released very soon, Amon-Sethis can now count on a solid experience in spinning stories and developing a unique atmosphere, with an ancient Egyptian and mythological vibe, entrancing orchestrations and impressive melodies. The latest lineup is also particularly efficient, and one could never stress enough how a virtuose bass player can fashion a band’s musical identity.

As always the show begins with an orchestral introduction and Julien the singer appearing wearing an Egyptian mortuary mask and a leather coat. Despite the small stage, Amon Sethis likes to put on a show. Here and there around the stage, you could see ancient tokens: a skull, a hieroglyph book, a vase,… The stage was too small for the usual metallic triangle set on fire. The front row would have lost their eyebrows.

“Mask Of Wrath” the opening title is already a great piece showing the most aggressive sounding side of the band, while “Blood Red Temple” showcases very catchy choruses and bass lines. The band decided then to slow down with the ballad “My Sister, My Love, My Pharaoh.” But this was just a short respite before the new song “Rise Of The Tyrant” to be released on the new album, and sounding already promising. “At The Threshold Of Doom” was a brand new track as well, and based on the positive reaction of the audience, it surely will be a single of the new album. The most impressive track on stage remains “Osiris God Of The Dead” from their latest album, with a truly epic chorus.

For those who did not know the band already, it was a great discovery!

Sortilège

The atmosphere was definitely heated for the set of Sortilège. The venue had probably sold too many tickets for a Heavy Metal show, during which people do not tend to composedly watch the musicians but need a bit of room for moshing around. With no photo pit, the first row had to be careful not to overthrow the musicians’ mike stands and amps. Unfortunately this packed atmosphere was not always friendly as people fought to get a better view.

66 years old and still counting Christian Augustin “Zouille” the original vocalist did not grow rusty during the inactive years of Sortilège. Kicking off the show with “Amazone” and “Phoenix” the band played a clever mix of old songs from the ’80s and tracks from their newest album. “Le Sacre Du Sorcier” echoes with “La Huitième Couleur de l’Arc-en-ciel”.

While they had to evict some classics from their recent show at Le Bataclan in Paris, this was the occasion to dive deeper into the career. They seemingly resurrected some expected classics such as “Marchand D’Homme” but also less expected “Toujours Plus Haut” with one of the best chorus and lyrics of the band. Sortilège performed with unwavering energy and passion. While they benefited of a good sound, the bass lines were sometimes a bit overmixed. Bruno Ramos (ex: Manigance) as lead guitar remains an impressive guitar-hero.

Other highlights of the show have to be mentioned: the dismally poetic “Quand Un Aveugle Rêve,” the hit of Apocalypso “Vampire” and its chorus saying “Quand l’envie de mordre m’assaille” to avoid any more unfortunate gibberish singing that French audience particularly enjoy.

After almost two hours of show, Sortilège chose to conclude with “Messager” and it almost did in fact conclude the show, as a bunch of slightly drunk and heat-up guys started to fight in the pit. Zouille and his bandmates had to threaten to leave the stage on the spot for the scuffle to quiet down. In the end everything was fine and the band added the oh so cheesy but classic “Mourir Pour Une Princesse” to the set.