Review by Lumina on May 11, 2026.

While already familiar with Alice Simard's various projects—and having a rough idea of her songwriting approach—I put off checking out Coffret De Bijoux for quite a while. Out of all of Alice's projects, this one leans much further into the creative, unique, and overall more distinctive side of her work.

While black metal is clearly at the core here—whether atmospheric, raw, or even touching on blackgaze—this EP also pulls influence from several other genres: hints of soft pop, lo-fi, electronic/synth elements, and more. On paper, that combination could easily feel overwhelming, but the way everything is blended together never comes across as chaotic or overdone.

First, I'd like to talk about the vocals. For the most part, they're the kind of harsh vocals you'd expect from black metal, which is certainly no complaint. What stands out more is the clean vocals, which have an almost angelic quality—calming, airy, and genuinely pleasant to listen to. The contrast between the two styles creates a really effective dynamic. I'm still not entirely sure what the lyrics are about, since I haven't been able to find them, nor do I understand much of what's being said—but honestly, I don't mind that at all.

The instrumentals are equally impressive, which is pretty much what I've come to expect from any Alice project. The synth and electronic elements are a particular highlight here, fitting seamlessly into the overall sound. In some ways, they even remind me of The Civil War in France—another project I'd highly recommend, even if it's not exactly metal. The bass tone, which normally isn't something I gravitate toward, works surprisingly well here. The drums also have a more electronic character to them, which once again feels completely natural within the context of the EP. The guitar work is impressive as well, even if it’s not something I feel particularly qualified to break down in detail.

Put all of that together, and you're left with an EP that feels both genuinely unique and consistently engaging.

My only real complaint is that it's honestly a bit too short—though that's probably my own fault for making this my first Coffret De Bijoux release.

Favorite tracks: 'Floranam,' 'Nielpa U Mel Rei’alsona'

Rating: 9.3 out of 10