Episode 67 – Prog Macabre: French Dread

With this dispatch, we descend into the catacombs to examine France's heritage of musical terror. From the spectral melancholy of Pulsar to the howling conflagrations of Deathspell Omega, this episode provides a tour across four decades of music that commits itself to the most essential - and essentially Gaulic - notions of Grand Guinol and Fin de Siecle. We beckoned the uncanny, the psychically-tortured, the decadent, the unrepentant, and all invitations were accepted. We hope that you, too, will accept our invitation for this journey into the bleakest corners of the French imagination.

Note I: In a rare occurrence, both hosts were in exceedingly good moods for this recording. Forgive our exuberance and multiple tangents.

Note II: French Dread has haunted other episodes of Radical Research:

Artcane featured in episode 3: https://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-3-gnidrolog-supersister-artcane/ Shub-Niggurath featured in episode 23.5: https://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-23-5-mystery-snippets/ Magma featured in episode 28: https://www.radicalresearch.org/episode-28-rock-out-with-your-calc-out-a-math-rock-survey/ Note III: Please consider donating if you listen to Radical Research often: https://www.paypal.me/rrpodcast We also have a webstore where you can find shirts, CDs, and books: https://www.radicalresearch.org/shop/

Music cited, in order of appearance: Magma, “Köhntarkösz” (BBC 1974 Londres) Shylock, “La Cinquieme” (Gialorgues, 1977) Pulsar, “Tired Answers” (Halloween, 1977) Pulsar, “Fear of Frost”/”Time” (Halloween, 1977) Arachnoid, “Toutes Ces Images” (Arachnoid, 1979) Dün, “L'épice” (two moments) (Eros, 1981) Art Zoyd, “Mariée à la Nuit” (live in West Berlin, 1986) Shub-Niggurath, “Yog Sothoth” (Les Morts Vont Vite, 1986) Blut Aus Nord, “Our Blessed Frozen Cells” (The Work Which Transforms God, 2003) Deathspell Omega, “A Chore for the Lost” (Fas – Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeturnum, 2007) Amesoeurs, “Gas in Veins” (Amesoeurs, 2009) Ep. 68 preview: Emperor, "Thus Spake the Nightspirit" (Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, 1997)

Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.