Malcuidant - “L'hymne de la Ghilde” (France, Total Holocaust Records, Black Metal, 2005) Gatefold LP - 350 copies This is the second Malcuidant release in nine years; the first one was the demo “Le Malcuidant” released in 2000, and the first release under T.H.R. banner. What Strikes you first is the crystal clear production that this band has, something a bit unusual for and underground black metal band, but highly welcomed from my side (not that I don’t like unpolished black metal though). Coming to the music, you won’t find anything new, but in the same time, you will not find anything weak! I guess that this album has a strict target , black metal purists, no compromise is to be found here, no gay parts, no mosh riffs, but you’ll find a very haunted atmosphere, greatly created by Malcuidant, everything here spews blasphemy! The great tortured vocals (not a cliché! Fortheyr and Ayrhomm put a lot of despair in their vocal harmonies), the punishing guitar, (which even if some of you will probably say another 3 chord guitarist), the pounding drummer (great double bass), and the bassist (an instrument often forgotten by black metal bands) all are contributing to the creation of a great black metal release (limited to 350 copies). Go for it! Review by Contact: thr666@telia.com Playing Time: 35:29 70/100 Review by Carlaont Catalin