You’ve got to laugh. Or at least find something that might bring a smile to your face in these spiritually bankrupt days. Somewhat surprisingly, and in a distinctly unexpected case of expect the unexpected, a rather prominent sense of humour was to be found in what I assumed would be just another devil worshipping metal album. Welcome to “Ma Belgitude” by Boum Patat.
Boum Patat - actually led by Olivier Wittenberg, a proper stalwart of the Belgian metal scene – give the appearance of being purveyors of solid metal sounds with those power chords, pounding drums and guttural vocals present and correct in all of the ten songs on this album. So, sounds just like another European metal album then? Well, not quite as there is more in the mix than another ten minute guitar solo and Boum Patat throw in a whole pot full of theatricality with the result demonstrating a clear affection for the expectations of the genre whilst perverting the often overpowering seriousness so beloved of metal bands with something akin to a twisted take on the soundbite powered lifestyles of the almost rich and nearly fashionable. To put it another way, this album is like Brel if he drank only bourbon for his breakfast and had a secret obsession with synth pop.
It has been a good week for individuality. Boum Patat certainly follow their own path with “Ma Belgitude” and you really can’t argue with an album that leaves you feeling better than when you first pressed the play button.