SORTILÈGE - Larmes de héros LP

HRR 910LP, ltd 1000, 400 x black, 400 x blue + 200 x "DRAPEAU TRICOLORE" vinyl (HRR mailorder exclusive), 425gsm heavy cardboard cover with 5mm spine, 8 page booklet, 2 inserts, poster

Picture Disc: ltd 500, handnumbered, deluxe plastic bag, cardboard insert

Christian Augustin - lead and backing vocals

Stephane Dumont - lead guitar

Didier Demajean - guitars

Daniel Lapp - bass

Bob Snake - drums

01 La Hargne des Tordus

02 Chasse le Dragon

03 Le Demier des Travaux d'Hercule

04 Quand un Aveugle Réve

05 Mourir pour une Princesse

06 La Montagne qui Saigne

07 Marchand d'Hommes

08 Messager

09 La Huitième Couleur de L'arc-en-ciel

AVAILABLE

Picture Disc: October 17th

All tracks mastered by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in September 2022.

Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels...

The ultimate audiophile reissue of this eternal French Metal classic!

When French heavy metal band Sortilège formed in 1981, they were following the example of their fellow countrymen Trust. Musically however, the band from the suburbs of Paris took their musical approach one step further, forging an amalgam of true heavy metal without being influenced by punk rock (like the early Trust), blues rock (Ganafoul) or progressive rock (Océan).

“Our influences were mainly hard rock bands, the ones we were covering at the time with Blood Wave,” confirms guitarist and founding member Didier Demajean today. Blood Wave were the forerunners of Sortilège, playing songs by Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rainbow, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Kiss, and of course Trust.

After changing their name to Sortilège, Christian Augustin, aka “Zouille” (vocals), Daniel Lapp (bass), Jean-Philippe Dumont, aka Bob Snake (drums), Didier Demajean (guitar) and Stéphane Dumont (guitar) recorded their first, self-titled EP for Dutch label Rave-On Records in 1983. The five original compositions: “Amazone”, “Progéniture Destructrice”, “Gladiateur”, “Sortilège” and “Bourreau” were received extremely well by press and fans alike (inside and outside their home country). High-profile support slots in the French capital for Samson and Def Leppard followed, before it was time to record the follow-up to »Sortilège«.

Sortilège’s first full-length album was called »Métamorphose«, and it was released in 1984 on French label Devil’s Records. Following the release of the album, Sortilège played a French tour as well as appearing live in Germany and The Netherlands. An international edition called »Metamorphosis«, featuring English vocals, was issued by German label Steamhammer Records the same year. While »Métamorphose« sold 30,000 copies in France alone, the English Steamhammer edition sold roughly the same number.

When 1986 approached, it became time for the successor of »Métamorphose«/»Metamorphosis« to be recorded. »Larmes De Héros« is widely considered to be the best of the three Sortilège records. Guitarist Didier Demajean agrees wholeheartedly: “Yes, we think so too. It’s the most sophisticated, the most accomplished album of ours, and the songs are all very well written.”

Some people in France have described Sortilège as “absolute pioneers in Epic and Progressive Metal … Stylistically, »Larmes De Héros« was different from most French metal albums in 1985/86. “Yes, we had found our own style,” is how the band’s guitarist explains it, “we were much more Anglo-Saxon than the other French bands who all had a kind of complex towards English and American legends. The songs on »Larmes De Héros« are more melodic and were meant to reach a wider audience than just the usual hard core of metal fans.”

It is strange that even non-French speaking fans prefer the French-language version of »Larmes De Héros« compared to »Hero’s Tears« (the latter was once more put out by Steamhammer Records). “The English version of »Larmes De Héros« is not up to the standard of the original French version,” is how Didier explains it. “Zouille is much more at ease phonetically and rhythmically in his native language than in Shakespeare's. The interpretation and the emotion are undeniably felt more strongly in the French version.” That’s very well put.

This time, however, Steamhammer were holding the international rights, and so the French language-edition was licensed back to Rocks Records, a small French label, which in turn made the French pressing of »Larmes De Héros« a proper vinyl rarity back in the 1980s.

»Larmes De Héros«/»Hero’s Tears« was recorded in Germany at Karo Studios, produced by Vic Vergeat and engineered by Kalle Trapp. “They did what they could with the limited time and means available to them,” is how Didier describes the recording process in retrospect. “Vic Vergeat is an Italian guitar player, songwriter and record producer. He’s good, but he's not as exceptional a guitar player as Stéphane (laughs)!”

“We had a great time in Germany,” continues the guitarist, “the atmosphere was very good, but we didn't really have time to visit and enjoy the country, we were all very focused on our recordings.” However, it was not the band’s first visit to Germany,” as Didier Demajean recalls: “In late 1983, following the success of our first EP, we went on tour in Germany as an opening act for Viva, the band of Barbara Schenker, Rudolf’s and Michael's sister. The reception of the German audience was enthusiastic!”

After the release of »Larmes De Héros«/»Hero’s Tears« it went downhill pretty fast for Sortilège, France’s hard rock/metal band number two (after Trust). “After Zouille left, we continued under another name, with a Swiss singer, Mark B. Lay, from the band Killer,” Didier Demajean looks back. “We wrote new songs, but it didn't work out. We had reached the end of the line. There was nothing more to give. I think that Sortilège will never reform!”

MATTHIAS MADER

Artist & Album Overview

Sortilège is a French heavy metal band formed in Paris in the early 1980s. They are widely regarded as one of the most important bands of the French heavy metal scene, often grouped into what fans call the French Metal "Big Four" alongside acts like Blaspheme, H-Bomb, and Vulcain. Sortilège quickly stood out for their powerful, melodic style, blending traditional heavy metal with early elements of what would become power metal, all sung in French. Their vocalist, Christian "Zouille" Augustin, became iconic for his high-pitched yet commanding delivery.

Larmes De Héros (1986) is their second full-length album and is often considered their masterpiece. Compared to their rawer self-titled debut and the acclaimed Métamorphose (1984), this album showed a more mature and epic approach, with richer production, more refined guitar work, and compositions leaning toward melodic metal with a strong dramatic flair. The lyrics carry a mix of heroic, fantastical, and emotional themes, aligning with the European metal scene’s shift toward grand, anthemic atmospheres in the mid-1980s. Unfortunately, despite the quality of the record, Sortilège struggled with international exposure—partly because they sang in French—and the band split not long after, giving Larmes De Héros an almost legendary status as their last classic work.

50 Similar Artists

Here’s a list of bands/artists similar in sound, spirit, or era (a mix of French heavy metal peers, European power/heavy metal, and traditional 80s metal):

Blaspheme

H-Bomb

Vulcain

Killers (France)

Attentat Rock

ADX

Satan Jokers

High Power

Sortilège (early works)

Trust (heavier period)

Loudblast (early heavy/metal influences)

Warning (France)

Steel Angel

Demon Eyes

Ocean (France)

Silvertrain

Malédiction

Shakin’ Street

Chariot (UK)

Tokyo Blade

Cloven Hoof

Angel Witch

Grim Reaper

Jaguar

Heavy Load (Sweden)

Torch (Sweden)

Universe (Sweden)

Picture (Netherlands)

Vandenberg (early works)

Bodine

Ostrogoth

Killer (Belgium)

Acid (Belgium)

Crossfire (Belgium)

Warlock (Germany)

Stormwitch

Gravestone

Trance (Germany)

Tyrant (Germany)

Avenger (later Rage)

Iron Angel

Living Death

Angel Dust (early)

Atlain

Sinner (early period)

Viva (Germany)

Madison (Sweden)

Glory Bells

220 Volt

Fifth Angel (US, melodic/traditional leanings)