SHAXUL Wine and Death CD

This album is a fascinating and unexpected turn for one of the most respected figures in the French underground. Wine and Death is a collection of acoustic pieces, often featuring just a guitar and Shaxul's raw, unvarnished voice. The music is heavily inspired by traditional European folk, medieval melodies, and the dusty, lonesome vibes of dark country. It feels like a late-night session in a remote French tavern or a solitary journey through a forgotten countryside. The songwriting is stripped-down and evocative, focusing on themes of mortality, heritage, and the simpler pleasures of life (as the title suggests). Despite the change in genre, the "underground" spirit remains fully intact; the production is Lo-Fi and organic, capturing every creak of the guitar strings and the honest imperfections of the performance. It carries a similar "dark folk" weight to projects like Death in June or the more melancholic moments of Sol Invictus, yet it remains rooted in Shaxul's unique French perspective. For those who have followed Shaxul from his days in Deathspell Omega or Manzer, this CD is a mandatory acquisition to understand the full scope of his artistry. It is a bold, "out of time" record that prioritizes soul and atmosphere over any genre expectations.