A Black/Death Metal band from France and Canada, DUNKELNACHT was born in 2005 and never jeopardized its integrity, delivering fast-paced melodies entangled into hefty rhythms or breakdowns. With "Sombre nuit" the band went back on its roots, re-recording four songs of their first full-length "Atheist Dezekration."

"Oligarchislamisme" leads off the album. From the start, you can hear the roots of the FWOBM, but also some modern elements as well, and the musicianship is pretty strong. The thick and choking sound here fills the air with a black smoke, as the instruments combine in tight unison with the vocals. It is as frightening as it is brutal. "Les ailes clouées du sionisme" is a little shorter but no less intense in scope. The vocal style varies in layers of filthiness, and the band flexes their muscle with a great guitar solo.

"Étau chrétien" begins with some harrowing effects in the vocals before the song picks up and dashes at full steam, stopping at nothing, and bowling over everything in their path. The clean vocals provide some variation, but aren't quite as effective as the harsh vocals in my opinion. It slows just after the half-way point with horrid intentions before it picks back up and sprints to the end. "L'antichambre des âmes tortures" closes the album. It's a short, acoustical song with solemn leanings and some room to breathe, after the first three scorching tracks.

Though only four tracks long, this album burns a long time in your memory. The band shows mastery of three things. First, their musicianship is strong and the way they dip in and out of tight passages without missing a beat is impressive. Second, their passion can be felt by even a person with a totally cold heart. Third, the production is smart, as the band opts for a cleaner sound rather than the moldy, earthy production you often here in the genre. Bravo, gents!