The Great Old Ones

H.P. Lovecraft has often been a source of inspiration to musicians, but French black metallers the Great Old Ones from Bordeaux, have adhered to his literary works as maps of inspiration on their albums since 2012's Al Azif. The experimentation, mining exploration, and musical exposition continued on 2014's Tekeli-Li, E.O.D.: A Tale of Dark Legacy. 2019's Cosmicism on Season of Mist offered an evolution of sorts as the Lovecraftian themes were juxtaposed with esoteric and occult philosophy. Absent for more than a year due to the pandemic, the Great Old Ones changed their lineup nearly wholesale. In addition to guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Guerry (the band's lone original member) and guitarist Aurélien Edouard (2016-present), they enlisted third guitarist Hugo Bernart, drummer Julian Deana, and bassist Gregory Vouillat. In 2024 they recorded Kadath, based on Lovecraft's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. Their sophomore outing on Season of Mist was issued in January 2025.