Welcome to Canada. Home to talented artists CELINE DION, BRYAN ADAMS and of course... JUSTIN BIEBER... However, you'll be glad to note that we are not here to discuss them. We are here for SOMBRE HERITAGE, a three-piece Black Metal band hailing from Quebec and their debut album "Alpha Ursae Minoris". With a truly sombre (see what I did there??) in their artwork the scene is already set for a dark and morbid trip throughout the album as we explore the various dark and often repressed emotions that we may or may not feel.

Instantly, as "Polaris" begins with the atmospheric build up and into the melodic flow of a slightly more unconventional style of the genre. As the music flows through sections and continues to deliver the feeling of desperation and despair, as though the music is calling to you for help. With a noticeable increase in the pace we fly into the titular track "Sombre Heritage". Although the pace of the music has increased, the music its self has not been compromised. With flowing melodies that deliver the emotion and development of the track accented by the vocal line.

Another U-turn in pace and we are slowly and steadily trudging through mud and sludge as the burden and worries of life weigh down on the listeners shoulders. With heavy feet we move through the music, small clean guitar breaks offering up a ray of sunshine and hope before thrusting again into relentless and desperate intensity. But to say that I had all of these thoughts and imagery enter my mind through a single track just goes to show that, to me, "Nature Souillee" is something special.

As the pace once again increases into "Decheance" the reoccurring themes of desperation and despair are still prominently at the front of one's mind. Although, this track has more of an air of anger as opposed to bargaining, a somewhat of a fuck the world attitude if you will. That anger increases exponentially into an all-out rage as we reach "Dissidence" which is an apt title for the emotions that one feels when listening to the track. With impossibly aggressive riffs and rhythms, combined with the powerful vocals of Molag this is a tour de force of the album.

Finally, the journey comes to a close and we have reached the final track. Which returns to the slower paces that we faced in the earlier parts of the album. Seeing these flowing heavy melodies driven forwards by Silence and their drum set everything just ties together nicely to give the listener that absolute final release before the close of the album. Overall, I would say that this album is fantastic. With an impressive musical knowledge and display of musicianship this is certainly one to add to the list for any fan of Black Metal, or in fact fans of Doom as I feel that they walk hand in hand with one another. But I implore you reader, get out there, give them a listen and you will not be disappointed.