An album adorned by the sumptuous paintings of Jean-Marc Dauvergne can only contain a nectar worthy of the best vintages. Peter S., the one-man orchestra of this project, has already attained notoriety with his site Above the Ruins that gathers much information concerning the small industrial and neofolk scene. With A Challenge Of Honour, he easily passes the higher speed, offering us on record a résumé of his multiple influences drawn from a scene of undeniable richness. However, this album is not just a simple re-reading of our classics, but more a very personal interpretation of a musical experience that is of course similar to his mentors but sufficiently independent to remain original. We think of course of Der Blutharsch, NON, Death In June, Turbund Sturmwerk, Dawn and Dusk Entwined, Tribe of Circle and many others, but instead of plagiarising the originals, Peter brings an additional stone to the edifice. A dark and martial music, based on samples and percussions set to a background of echoes of the last world war, apocalyptic sirens, neat and repetitive melodies and inspired orchestrations. Two neofolk tracks appear on the album, leaving a lingering taste of incompleteness for the first one, and an excellent impression for the second one (Only Stones Remain), but Peter's talent is more to be found in his instrumental tracks, close to Darkwood's "Heimat und Jugend". An excellent record, a most promising debut, with a promising future.

Recommended !

Stéphane Fivaz
March 2002

Contact and label :
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France
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