Metal Monday CCLXIX - In Nomine Humana, Tenebris

Latin Album name? French lyrics? Chained, robed wraiths hovering near the ruins? It can only be Litanie. Hailing from Cazillac, France, this duo (and those before) have created a wicked dark sound that emanates and haunts the old places. In Nomine Humana, Tenebris (In The Name Of The Darkness, Of The Human)(<--RAD) is a killer album full or riffs and wails that groove and assail easily, carrying words of stirring madness. Look at that cover art! It is so simple yet astoundingly effective.
As for tracks, I am unsure what dark arts these hooded fiends worked but this album offers so much in each track. However, if I must point out some epic combos and key tracks it would be these:
L'Antre de la Folie (Yep... The Lair of Madness) begins, like most of these tracks do, with a sick intro that only bolsters and empowers the rest of the song. As this piece grows so too does its majesty. Yet, it is followed by the showcase track of this week and only proves the prowess of these artists. Puzinac, Havre de Blasphemes (Puzinac, House of the Blasphemes) starts off once more with a delicious intro and carries you through howls and hell before letting you  move onto the next piece. Each track is so grand alone but the way they work together is even more impressive. And, to top it all off, the final track, Pulchritudinem Hominis Perditi (Beauty In Despair). Aptly named and probably the best buildup with a super strong opening.
I cannot say enough about how suprising and delightful this find has been. Litanie is certainly high on my list of artists and will be watched more closely as, we hope, they produce more albums of this caliber. So, do yourself a favor this week, take a chance on something different, take a wild ride toward the unknown, and let Litanie serenade you with dark musings. If you are in France, go find these dudes and throw them some horns for me. /,,/
https://litanie.bandcamp.com/album/in-nomine-humana-tenebris

Puzinac, Havre de Blasphemes
(English)
It was a place
against God,
Where men
loaded their helm
of prayers.

Their songs still
resonate with the
sandstone of the
wind,
And the sound of
the bell marks
the tone of a near past.

The shadow of
the cross
emerging on the
dark roofs
Crush every
existence with
horrible penance.

Puzinac, heretical
paradise, who
As a lake invades
the spirits of a
fate.

It's at the heart of
this pile of
stones
What is the time
to live in these
lands?
We, poor
fishermen,
attracted by the
echo of old
quarrels
Who make this
haven of
blasphemy,
Let's walk to this
cold destination.

Because it is in
his nave, that we
will see in
Puzinac,
Monks having
betrayed their
homeland,
sermons and
​grievances.

(Original/French)
Il fût un lieu à l'encontre de Dieu, 
Où les hommes chargèrent leur heaume de prières. 

Leurs chants résonnent encore au grès du vent, 
Et le son de la cloche marque le ton d'un passé proche. 

L'ombre de la croix qui se dessine sur les sombres toits 
Écrase chaque existence d'une horrible pénitence. 

Puzinac, paradis hérétique, qui, 
Comme un lac envahit les esprits d'une envie fatidique. 

C'est au cœur de ce tas de pierres 
Que vient l'heure de vivre en ces terres. 
Nous, pauvres pêcheurs, attirés par l'écho des vieilles querelles 
Qui en font cet havre de blasphèmes, 
Marchons vers cette froide destination. 

Car c'est en sa nef, que nous verrons à Puzinac, 
De moines ayant trahis leur patrie, les sermons et griefs.It was a place against God, Where men loaded their helm of prayers. Their songs still resonate with the sandstone of the wind, And the sound of the bell marks the tone of a near past. The shadow of the cross emerging on the dark roofs Crush every existence with horrible penance. Puzinac, heretical paradise, who As a lake invades the spirits of a fate. It's at the heart of this pile of stones What is the time to live in these lands? We, poor fishermen, attracted by the echo of old quarrels Who make this haven of blasphemy, Let's walk to this cold destination. Because it is in his nave, that we will see in Puzinac, Monks having betrayed their homeland, sermons and grievances.