Time Signature
When in France...
Genre: traditional metal
Existance is a French metal band, and this release is their debut album; it originally self-released in 2011, but was distributed to a broader audience in 2012 via High Roller Records.
We are dealing with old school heavy metal, which is specifically inspired by the NWOBHM. The album evolves around classic metal riffage, and there certainly are enough guitar leads to satisfy the guitar-loving masses. Moreover, Existance make extensive use of harmonic twin-guitars, and there is plenty of general guitar noodling as well.
Vocalist Julien Izard is very French in his singing style, and his voice reminds me of Bertrand Cantat from the French rock band Noir Désir. Thus, there are no metal screams to speak of, but his singing still kind of fits the music.
As retro metal goes, Existance's debut is retro classic metal with a French touch, and a quite enjoyable affair.