Album Review: Zeicrydeus – La Grande Heresie for #FutureRelics
Band: Zeicrydeus
Title: La Grande Heresie
Label: Gates of Hell / Nameless Grave
Release date: 25/07/2025
Country: Canada
Format reviewed: LP
Album Review: Zeicrydeus – La Grande Heresie for #FutureRelics via Gates of Hell / Nameless Grave by Consanguineus
Originally released back in April on CD and cassette, this album somehow slipped through the cracks of my radar. It’s one of those releases that I only truly discovered once it got the vinyl treatment, and now that it’s spinning on my turntable, I’m kicking myself for not catching it sooner.
Zeicrydeus is a Canadian Black Metal band led by Foudre Noir, with Chakal stepping in as session drummer for this particular recording. Their influences bubble up from a vast and eclectic cauldron—Necromantia (whose presence is felt strongly throughout), Rotting Christ, Zembial, and Varathron on the one hand, but also Manowar, Running Wild, and Mortuary Drape on the other. This unusual combination already hints that we’re not dealing with your typical blast-and-tremolo formula here.
The result is a Black Metal album with a distinctly Hellenistic flavour—majestic, dramatic, and dripping with atmosphere. There’s an almost ritualistic attention to the bass guitar, which doesn’t simply follow the riffs but often takes on a lead role, weaving dark, melodic lines that recall the Greek masters of the early ’90s. The songwriting thrives on unpredictability: abrupt but purposeful tempo changes, melodic detours, and an occasional sense of grandeur that nods to classic Heavy and Epic Metal.
While there’s plenty of grim Black Metal to be found, the record isn’t afraid to stray from its frozen path. Take “Profane Spells & Naked Swords in the Emerald Meadows of Nhaath”, for example—here, the music gallops headlong into Heavy Metal territory, carrying the unmistakable scent of mid-’80s steel. Yet even in these moments, the Greek Black Metal DNA remains woven through the arrangements, keeping the album’s identity firmly intact.
The following track, “Sous L’ombre Éternelle des Vestiges d’Heghemmon”, goes one step further—at points you can almost hear the ghost of early Iron Maiden or the melodic flair of vintage Helloween peeking through the shadows. It’s the kind of unexpected twist that keeps the listener hooked, even if it might leave the more rigid genre purist scratching their head.
This is, without a doubt, a diverse and ambitious record. It refuses to be boxed into the “orthodox” category, choosing instead to explore a broader musical landscape while maintaining a dark and cohesive atmosphere. That ambition won’t be to everyone’s taste—those who crave straightforward, unrelenting fury might find it too varied—but for those willing to follow Zeicrydeus into uncharted territory, the rewards are rich.
The journey ends with a cover of Thou Art Lord’s “The Era of Satan Rising”, a respectful and powerful rendition that ties everything back to the album’s core influence: the early ’90s Greek scene, with all its mysticism, grit, and melodic sensibility.
As someone who has embraced metal since the mid-’80s, I can fully appreciate the scope and creativity at play here. It’s a record that both honours its influences and carves its own distinct path—though I can imagine that the more stoic Black Metal purist might find it a little too adventurous for their liking. 9/10
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Nameless Grave Records
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Gates of Hell Records
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9/10 Epic Storm
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