Review by Alex on July 12, 2020.

Cavernous? Germany?, this thing is highly infectious, hence we see so many other regions follow pursuit of the void magnetizing death metal. Nekus falls victim to the Australian wild-fire ignited by the likes of Grave Upheaval ("Untitled II") and Temple Nightside ("The Hecatomb") as they would usher-in, promulgate, master and renown a ritualistic form of death metal continually making waves within the underbelly of the medium. Death Nova Upon the Barren Harvest is Nekus' first attempt at channeling the void in which they execute without trouble and with a surprising degree of rigor. The collective of 4 necromantic delights cloaked in disquietude reach for the listener that when held by the engulfing darkness of the compositions is left to bare the inescapable paralysis.

Without an intro or any sort of deterrent, 'Devouring Mills' explodes with a frightening gust of bombastic drumming, butchering gutturals and trance-inducing riffs operating in subservience to the importunate vibrations of the vox, drum kick and bass. Like a beast risen from eons old slumber, upon its resurrection, the atmosphere dims ominously and intensifies incrementally, creating a portal with which is used to summon the dread it arrives with. With cankerous hostility at the core of the music, 'Putrid Harvester' extinguishes any clemency that may lurk and attempt to undermine the ritual. Very much still cavernous this entry conducts itself with much groove and militant drum patterns. A formula enlisted that would go on to be a recurrent theme on Death Nova Upon the Barren Harvest.

Had it not been for the promotional text, one would have mistaken 'Death Nova Upon the Barren Harvest' for a Grave Upheaval recording. Nekus' crop is quite identical to such but is not without its own ingredients amidst the uproar. There's more death metal here that there is doom and the rhythm is consistent most times with scarcely a break for a bit of rhythmic diversion or deceleration. Not very technical or complex at all, only using the simplest of movements to get the job done; as they say sometimes, 'less is more' and such is the case here. The clear production captures the atmosphere and helps out the impact of the drumming and vocals that as a team carries the album. One could only predict greater things to come as a result of Nekus' unannounced though splendid emergence.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Felix on July 1, 2019.

Ossuaire is the name of another French singing battalion from Quebec. Do I need to say more? Guess it goes without saying that the four musicians perform an endless row of flowing guitar lines. The songs do not lack velocity, to say the least, and they could be used in order to herald the apocalypse or at least a force majeure that leaves a trail of devastation. After this successful integration of two French words, my proposal is to go into the details.

No doubt, musicians who write such energetic and explosive songs like the two which open the album can hardly just sit around. Their ravenous appetite for activities leaves them no choice, they have to create something great and given this situation, it is no surprise that their attitude results in furious compositions. The trademarks of the French scene from Quebec are not missing, but Ossuaire have found their own way to celebrate them. They bundle their energy in five songs while one track ("Exhortation") is rather a kind of conjuration ritual than a song. I am not convinced that it was necessary to integrate this unusual piece. Anyway, this album still holds a lot of substance. The remaining compositions present an elemental force that combines clearly defined melodies with ultimate dedication. Passion meets musical skills and this liaison - another French word, right? - definitely has an effect. One gets embraced by the relentless harmonies which sometimes pay tribute to some icy Norwegian leads from the mid-nineties. The voice, equipped with a lot of reverb, supports the demonic approach masterly. Sometimes it seems as if the lead vocals originate directly from hell. Sometimes background choirs strive for a solemn mood. Either way, all these different ways of articulation work and so here is nothing easier than to forget everything around while listening to Premiers Chants.

Just like all their comrades from their home region, Ossuaire never lose control. The compositions stay away from any kind of chaos even in their wildest and fastest sequences. Okay, the sound could be a tad more transparent. Its density is impressive but at the same time exactly this density is the reason why the mix swallows some details. With the exception of the aforementioned fourth track, it could be that all songs sound the same for the less experienced listener. We know that this would be a misconception, but maybe Ossuaire are well advised to work out their sound a bit more carefully. But don't get me wrong, it is definitely a great pleasure to experience how the band lets steam off, especially during the dominating rapid parts - and even less fast-paced sequence like the beginning or the end of "Saints Céphalophores" emanate a compelling aura.

From my point of view, there is no outstanding song, because all of the five "real" tunes are more or less on par. So, there can be no doubt that Ossuaire enrich the MNQ movement and their sound makes no secret of their origin. Believe me, the bands from this spot of the earth have so much quality that they need no camouflage. And rest assured, this was the last French word I used today.

Rating: 8 out of 10