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Two-man French band Helioss describe their sound as Symphonic Black/Death Metal, and on their fourth album, Devenir le soleil, I'm not going to argue with that. While Nicolas Mueller handles guitars and bass and Thomas Blanc (a.k.a. DM) is on vocals, this album contains no less than twelve guest musicians for drums, additional vocals and percussion, cello, and even a goddamn saxophone, which might lead you to believe this is a massive and overwrought production. Well, it's certainly the former, but after some listens, I'd have to say it's too good to be considered the latter.

Devenir le soleil is an ambitious album filled to the brim with challenging and complex song structures, so much so that it'll take a few listens to understand what the hell you're even listening to. The songs are written in both French and English and contain a fair few progressive elements, which goes a long way in making this such an accomplished and individual release. Highlights include "La lèpre des hommes", which starts with shamanic chanting before going down a strange and serpentine progression before returning to the chants, and the colossal 24-minute centerpiece of the title track, a multilayered epic full of hair pin turns and sudden rises and falls that'll leave you breathless until the very end.

I can't say if this is the band's best or most ambitious work, but it is a high-quality release capable of cramming in every idea possible without making it sound bloated in the slightest. If you like your Black/Death long-winded and grand, Helioss surely have you covered.