Benighted Unleashes ‘Metastasis,’ Gears Up for Hellfest Warm-up Tour

The French extreme death metal/grindcore ensemble Benighted has unveiled ‘Metastasis,’ the second single from their forthcoming LP, ‘Ekbom,’ released on April 12th via Season of Mist. This offering was recorded at Kohlekeller Studio in Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany, under the adept production of Kristian Kohlmannslehner. Concurrent with the album’s announcement, Benighted also released an official music video for ‘Metastasis,’ crafted by Kick Your Eye Productions. The video sets a visual precedent for the album’s thematic and auditory intensity.

In the realm of promotional activities, Benighted is preparing to embark on the Hellfest Warm-up Tour across France this April, an endeavor that will feature the robust support of Ten56. Other bands, including Rise of the North Star, Stinky, and KAMIZOL K, will join on select dates, enriching the tour with varied musical styles. Furthermore, Benighted anticipates an engaging return to Canada, marking their first performance there in nine years, where they will execute a series of concerts alongside the band Cognitive.

Formed in Saint-Étienne, Rhône-Alpes, France, in May 1998, Benighted was established by an ensemble of friends with a profound passion for extreme music. The original lineup included vocalist Julien Truchan, guitarists Liem N’Guyen and Olivier Gabriel, drummer Fred Fayolle, and bassist Chart. Their first album, self-titled ‘Benighted,’ released in 2000, through Adipocere Records, was a raw amalgamation of death metal, black metal, and grindcore, setting the foundation for their evolving sound.

In 2001, the band secured a contract with Adipocere Records, which coincided with a stylistic shift towards a more technically complex form of death metal evident in their second album, ‘Psychose,’ released in 2002. This album began to solidify their reputation beyond France, as they expanded their audience internationally.

Benighted’s third album, ‘Insane Cephalic Production,’ released in 2004, showcased their growing technical skills, featuring fast-paced, intricate rhythms that highlighted the band’s musical depth. This period also marked the beginning of their collaboration with producer Kristian “Kohle” Kohlmannslehner at his Kohlekeller Studio in Germany, a relationship that has continued to shape their sound.

The departure of Fayolle led to Kevin “Kikou” Foley taking over the drums in 2006, a change that coincided with the release of ‘Identisick’ (2006). This album introduced industrial and electronic elements, further broadening their sonic palette. The subsequent album, ‘Icon,’ released in 2007 under Osmose Productions, and ‘Asylum Cave’ in 2011 under Season of Mist, delved deeper into psychological horror and personal depravity, with ‘Asylum Cave’ particularly noted for its narrative complexity, exploring the hallucinations of a schizophrenic.

‘Asylum Cave’ was an album that narratively explored the dark and twisted fantasies of a schizophrenic, reflecting this in its chaotic and layered compositions. The work was noted for its conceptual depth and the band’s ability to convey intense stories through music.

Benighted then signed with Season of Mist, a label known for its diverse roster of extreme metal bands. Under this label, they released ‘Carnivore Sublime’ on February 14th, 2014, which was characterized by an even more refined technical execution and heightened brutality, reflecting the band’s continuous growth.

Their eighth studio album, ‘Necrobreed,’ was released in 2017, introducing Romain Goulon as the drummer, and continued their tradition of fast-paced, aggressive sound mixed with thematic explorations of chaos and mental fragmentation. Following this, the band released ‘Obscene Repressed’ in 2020, which featured contributions from notable artists such as Jamey Jasta and Sebastian Grihm, emphasizing the band’s significant collaborative spirit and ongoing innovation within the metal genre.

The French death goregrind metal scene, a subgenre of extreme metal, has carved a unique niche in both the cultural landscape of France and the global metal community. This genre is characterized by its intensely graphic lyrical content, fast-paced rhythms, and a focus on macabre, often morbid themes. Originating in the late 1980s and early 1990s, this subculture has proliferated through a variety of channels, including bands, festivals, publications, and record labels, each contributing to its distinctive ethos and aesthetic.

Central to the scene are the bands, which are the primary creators and disseminators of the music and its associated themes. Bands such as Gronibard, and Pulmonary Fibrosis have gained notoriety for their visceral performances and uncompromising sonic brutality. These groups often utilize shock value as a means of artistic expression, embedding their music within the traditions of horror and gore, thus reflecting deeper societal taboos and fears. The lyrical content, often indiscernible to the untrained ear due to the vocal style known as “death growls,” typically delves into themes of violence, decay, and the grotesque, challenging conventional norms and pushing the boundaries of acceptability.

Festivals play a pivotal role in the community, acting as congregational points for fans and artists alike. Events such as the Hellfest in Clisson not only showcase domestic talent but also attract international acts, facilitating a cultural exchange and bolstering the scene’s international relevance. These festivals are not merely musical events but are also imbued with an atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual appreciation for the genre’s niche appeal. They often feature vendor stalls selling records, apparel, and other merchandise, further supporting the scene’s economy and its aesthetic propagation.

Publications, both print and digital, are instrumental in the intellectual cultivation of the scene. Magazines and fanzines such as Metallian provide critical commentary, band interviews, and album reviews, which are crucial for the articulation and dissemination of the scene’s core philosophies and aesthetic values. These publications serve as archival documents that trace the evolution of the genre, offering insights into its dynamic changes and the socio-cultural forces at play. Additionally, they offer a platform for discourse, allowing for debates and discussions that help in shaping the collective identity of the goregrind community.

Record labels specializing in death goregrind, such as Kaotoxin Records, play a critical role in the production and distribution of the music. These labels often operate under tight-knit, community-focused business models, which prioritize artistic integrity over commercial success. By providing logistical and financial support, these labels facilitate the recording, production, and distribution of music that might otherwise be too niche for mainstream platforms. Their commitment ensures that the genre remains vibrant and continuously evolving, pushing artistic boundaries while maintaining its underground status.

Collectively, these elements—bands, festivals, publications, and record labels—converge to form a robust network that supports and perpetuates the French death goregrind metal scene. This network not only sustains the genre’s musical and thematic expressions but also reinforces its cultural significance, both within France and in the broader global context. Through its confrontational aesthetics and its relentless exploration of societal taboos, the French death goregrind scene challenges conventional artistic expressions and offers a stark commentary on the human condition, making it a significant cultural phenomenon within the extreme metal milieu.

Back to Benighted, the LP ‘Ekbom’ encapsulates themes drawn from the unsettling Ekbom syndrome, a rare neurological condition also known as Delusional Parasitosis. The album’s narrative and sonic elements promise to immerse listeners in the depth of its dark, psychological underpinnings. Noteworthy tracks such as ‘Metastasis’ complement this theme, with the music video for the song being another production by Kick Your Eye Productions. This track is notable not only for its thematic depth but also for featuring an aggressive vocal collaboration with Oli Aleron from Archspire, known for his work in the technical death metal scene.

‘Nothing Left to Fear,’ another significant track from ‘Ekbom,’ achieves a staggering 402 beats per minute, showcasing Benighted’s exceptional technical prowess and musical ferocity. This song not only emphasizes the band’s capacity for speed but also highlights their artistic evolution, marrying intensity with intricate musicality. The synergy between Julien Truchan and Oli Aleron’s vocals on this track epitomizes the peak of brutal vocal artistry, further solidifying the album’s place within the extreme metal genre.

The cover art for ‘Ekbom,’ created by Grindesign (Rob Borbas), visually echoes the album’s haunting themes, marrying the grotesque with the artistic to form a striking visual representation of the album’s core narrative. ‘Ekbom’ promises to be a pivotal addition to Benighted’s discography, cementing their status as pioneers of their genre while exploring the intersections of extreme music and complex psychological horror.

Hellfest, an annual music festival held in Clisson, France, stands as a paramount gathering for fans of heavy metal and hard rock. Instituted in 2006, this festival has burgeoned from a national event to a globally recognized congregation of some of the most influential acts in the genre. The inception of Hellfest can be traced back to its predecessor, Furyfest, held in Le Mans during 2002-2005, which laid the foundational ethos for what Hellfest would eventually embody.

The 2023 iteration of Hellfest is noteworthy for its expansion and the inclusion of a Warm-Up series, designed to galvanize anticipation and provide a platform for bands to perform in the days leading up to the main event. Among the groups featured in this prelude is Benighted, a band known for its brutal blend of death metal and grindcore. Benighted has carved a niche within the extreme metal community, recognized for their intense sound and energetic live performances.

Hellfest’s evolution is marked by its progressive enlargement in scope and scale, evidenced by its staging and lineup. While always focused on extreme metal, the festival has broadened its offerings over the years. Today, it features a vast array of genres within the extreme metal umbrella, including black metal, death metal, thrash metal, and doom. This diversity in musical offerings has played a pivotal role in the festival’s growing appeal, drawing attendees from across the globe.

The festival’s layout, designed to cater to various sonic preferences, typically features multiple stages—each dedicated to specific subgenres. This organizational strategy not only enhances the attendee experience by minimizing sound interference but also serves to celebrate the genre’s diversity. The main stages are reserved for the most prominent bands, while the Valley stage caters to sludge and doom enthusiasts, and the Temple stage is devoted to fans of black and death metal.

Hellfest extends beyond just the music. It offers a plethora of visual arts displays, merchandise stalls, and food options, creating a holistic environment that caters to various interests. This commitment to a well-rounded cultural experience is further exemplified by the festival’s thematic design and decor, which aligns with the dark and often macabre aesthetic prevalent within the metal subculture.

The impact of Hellfest extends beyond its immediate cultural contributions. Economically, the festival significantly benefits the local community of Clisson, drawing thousands of international visitors and boosting local businesses. Hellfest has also established itself as a significant player in the global music scene, influencing festival trends and solidifying the importance of metal music for a large and passionate international audience.

Benighted’s contributions extend beyond their studio albums to vibrant live performances, characterized by their intensity and precision, which have solidified their status in metal music festivals and tours across Europe and North America. This extensive engagement with both the music and thematic depth demonstrates Benighted’s central role in the development of extreme metal, continuously pushing the boundaries of the genre while exploring the dark facets of the human condition through their art.

Throughout their career, Benighted has shown a consistent trajectory towards increasing complexity, both musically and thematically. Their movement across record labels from Adipocere Records to Season of Mist has also paralleled a growth in their production values and international exposure, illustrating a significant development in their approach to music and thematic storytelling within the metal genre. Each release not only chronicles a progression in sound and technical prowess but also captures the evolution of the band’s identity within the extreme metal community.