French black metal pioneers Seth are now revealing the cover artwork and album details for their upcoming record ‘La Morsure du Christ’.

The history of black metal formation Seth and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record. Seth has lit up the flame of those early days again with ‘La Morsure du Christ’, which can be seen as sequel to the highly acclaimed debut.

The record is set for worldwide release on May 7, via Season of Mist. Presales will start soon.

The band comments: “Our sixth album, written in a typically traditional nineties black metal, has been crafted as a faithful sequel to our 1998 debut album Les Blessures de L’Ame, released at the time by Season Of Mist. La Morsure du Christ offers seven tracks, all written in Alexandrine French poetry, to be unleashed as a tribute to the second anniversary of Notre-Dame de Paris devastating blaze.”

Tracklist: 1. La Morsure du Christ (05:54) 2. Métal Noir (04:55) 3. Sacrifice de Sang (06:25) 4. Ex-Cathédrale (06:49) 5. Hymne au Vampire (Acte III) (07:25) 6. Les Océans du Vide (07:05) 7. Le Triomphe de Lucifer (05:57) Bonus tracks 8. Les Océans du Vide – Synth Version (04:25) 9. Sacrifice de Sang – Synth Version (03:14) Total: 0:52:05

The history of black metal formation Seth and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record. Seth has lit up the flame of those early days again with ‘La Morsure du Christ’, which can be seen as sequel to the highly acclaimed debut.

The release of ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ quickly gained international attention and Seth built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album ‘Originators of the Northern Darkness’ alongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length ‘The Excellence’ came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song ‘Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound’.

Shortly after, the group recorded their third album ‘Divine-X’ (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.

Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album ‘Era-Decay’ (2004), two new members joined the ranks of Seth: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.

A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing ‘The Howling Spirit’ (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of ‘Les Blessures de L’Ame’ in 2018, Seth exclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called ‘20 ans de Blasphème’. The band’s new line-up featured members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.

With the flame of Seth burning strong again, the French black metallers started writing new material. On the new record ‘La Morsure du Christ’ (a double meaning title: literally « The Bite of Christ » and phonetically « Christ’s death is certain »), they return to their original sound, employ French alexandrine verse in their lyrics and choose a striking image as an album art. The blazing inferno of the Notre-Dame de Paris is depicted on the cover, an event that shuddered the world on April 15, 2019. The release of the record marks the 2nd anniversary of the event.

It’s a powerful picture that conveys the very essence of ‘La Morsure du Christ.’ In a world moving further away from religion and spirituality, the demise of this landmark symbolizes the end of the Christian reign and the ultimate betrayal of God. From the ashes of the cathedral, a godless world will come into being.

Seth line-up: Guitar – Heimoth (Sinsaenum) / Drums – Alsvid (ex-Enthroned, AdPatres) / Vocals – Saint Vincent (BlackLodge, Vorkreist) / Bass – Esx Vnr (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack, ex-Glorior Belli) / Guitar – Drakhian (ex-Loudblast, Griffar) / Keys – Pierre Le Pape (Melted Space)

Artwork: Leoncio Harmr (www.harmr.com )

Recording studio: Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris (Regarde les Hommes Tomber, Sinsaenum, Loudblast, Hangman’s Chair)

Producer / sound engineer, mixing and mastering: Studio Sainte Marthe, Francis Caste