Marquis de Sade were first around in the early 1980s being one of many bands hoping to make their mark as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal took off. Back then they didn’t last long disappearing after one solitary single – Somewhere in the Mountains.
If you have a copy, consider yourself minted. It is rather rare these days apparently commanding a four figure sales price.
Here we now are some four decades later with out of nowhere Marquis de Sade reforming and issuing a superb debut album titled Chapter II. The NWOBHM roots remain of course however the music on Chapter II is fresh, expansive, varied, atmospheric and ambitious leaning towards the progressive metal in parts. A mixture of new songs and re-arrangements of some written the 1980s.
As time of typing this review (31 July 2023) and with the recent clutch of “legacy” NWOBHM-era bands putting out new albums such as Mythra, Weapon, Tygers of Pan Tang, Trespass, Millennium, Girlschool, Raven etc. of high standards, in my opinion Marquis de Sade outshines them all.
Belvedere and Now I Lay Me Down are a couple of shortish, chunky openers. Nice crisp riffs, measured solos and effective use of organs, keys and synths. Chunky bass lines and solid drumming keeping things under control. Both songs instantly accessible and reminded me somewhat of what Uriah Heep were doing on Abominog and Head First.
Fortress of Solitude is a big number as the band stretch out in to longer more complex stuff. A gentle piano riff with a soulful, emotional vocal goes in to a sort of a “power ballad” but more than that. Big hooks, changes of pace and a nice synth solo progging it up a bit.
Marquis de Sade another big one. Darkly brooding, gothic, atmospheric. Heavy, big riffs, big everything, excellent use of varies keys/synths alternating with the guitars and a menacing vocal. Superb. Something akin to Blue Oyster Cult on say Nosferatu or the Alchemist.
Suspended Animation a similar style. A slow burner leading up to a heavy mid-section with the organ and keys morphing with the big guitars and a tasty synth solo before a fine lead out.
Last Survivor is based on the good old Alien movie. Creepily atmospheric and edgy as it builds the tension and the trick ending. Can imagine being on the Nostromo trying to get rid of that nasty monster….! Have a look at them performing the song live:
Living in the Ice Age closes out a huge album with nine minutes or so of epicness. Riffs, solos, organs, keys and everything combining in a bombastic affair so well composed as it goes this way and that with the changes o0f pace holding the attention all the way.
So good to have Marquis de Sade back after four decades and with an album as strong as Chapter II. Think something along the lines of Blue Oyster Cult, Saracen, Uriah Heep and a bit of Deep Purple. Overall – a winner. Indeed – Chapter II is easily up there in my top five rock/metal albums of the year. It is that good.
I bagged a CD copy via the label here:
https://zyx.de/en/?s=marquis+de+sade&post_type=product&lang=en
Is showing an Amazon also:
https://amzn.to/47dQcJo