Founded in 2020 by multi-instrumentalist Antoine Scholtès, INHERITS THE VOID  is a relatively new project in the French black metal scene, yet the intensity and depth that Scholtès has presented in his music is immensely captivating. The debut album "Monolith of Light" is a convergence between influences from '90s Swedish black metal and modern day French atmospheric black metal. Think of DISSECTION, DARK FUNERAL, and CRAFT colliding with the likes of CELESTE and NESSERIA.

"Monolith of Light" presents seven raging hymns that speak of the transience of man. While listening to it, you will probably think of the universe, how vast yet nonchalant it is, and how the luminiferous aether creeps through the shadows of your days. Or probably you will be reminded of the deep dark void within all of us cosmic dusts. In the creative process of creating this album, it seems as if Scholtès tried to incorporate melodic and atmospheric elements to the songs he composed, while also preserving old school black metal roots. It's always interesting to see new names taking influences from '90s Nordic black metal bands which are the quintessential precursors of the scene, while also trying to experiment with new elements - because sonic versatility matters, after all. Atmospheric black metal is a relatively new subgenre, and the emergence of it so far is not yet to be as vast as the one of traditional black metal, but it's a nice thing that INHERITS THE VOID managed to pull off a total success in presenting a more melodic, emotive side of the subgenre.

This album opens with "Pillars of the Aether" which presents haunting tones of synths. There are also tracks with immutably fast-paced blast beat drumming such as "As the Winds Moon the Threnody" and "Through the Eyes of Cosmos".  The track "Through the Eyes of Cosmos" also has the characteristics of a traditional black metal act. Meanwhile, the track "Monolith of Light" opens with keyboards and consists of numerous layers. "Unfathomable Echoes" is a hymn with frantic and soul-crushing screams - and here we also have a 2-minute serene instrumental interlude called "Starless Path". The closing track "Aorasia" is all about solid and intricate riffs that would remind the listeners of early DISSECTION materials.

"Monolith of Light" sounds like a record that represents the absurdity of beings, how humans are ephemeral, how the void within all of us relapses from time to time. It is an eclectic take on the combination between atmospheric and traditional black metal. The atmospheric black metal subgenre is often confused and/or associated with blackgaze and post-metal, so I can conclude that this album might also be a fit for blackgaze/post-metal fans. For those who want to discover a deeper, more underrated side of the French black metal scene, this also might be a fit for you.  I also can see some Jon Nödtveidt influences in how Scholtès sings, considering how much this album was inspired by DISSECTION. My final verdict is that this album would be a remarkable representation of the many sides of atmospheric black metal scene.