Thalie Némésis: Catarsi Apotropaica – FR – DL [2025]

1. A Barbaric Language 3:32
2. A Demi-Mots 6:20
3. Acedia Is My Partner In Crime 5:35
4. Cassandra (le baiser de la fin) 3:14
5. No Surrender 5:13

Here’s more proof that almost all I need is available in the Bandcamp ecosystem. Last weekend the artist used the contact form on the website and while I had a spare moment, I was able to immediately sample and yes, buy their new EP, just released on May 30. As the world is spiraling into chaos and darkness like I’ve never seen in my lifespan, Thalie Némésis is producing the soundtrack to resist the horror.

Militaristic rhythm and drone paint a bleak image as the bass strums low and deep. A flute patch adds a contrapuntal Eastern unease to the music as the gently distorted guitar increases the tension. Which ebbs and flows in the song as Thalie sings the resolute lyric of defiance. Until the point the drums and the guitar escalate the tension into a harsh release for the final word. It’s a powerful piece as you can hear below.

“A Demi-Mots”[half-words] began with a compelling rhythm as Thalie sang in French on this song. Building the tension of the song subtly and slowly. Allowing the tension to slightly release with a watery guitar vibrato before the guitar and drums began to howl and thrash like a trapped beast. Leading into the still darker mood of “Acedia Is My Partner In Crime.” Spinning a web of palpable dread with the insect-like chittering of the rhythm track. As the song unfolded, one could sense the horizon tilting as the ground beneath our feet began to give way to the inevitable, imminent collapse that we could not forestall.

Tympani rhythms and howling synths conspired to place “Cassandra [Le Baiser De La Fin]” in a space adjacent to Gary Numan’s excellent “Absolution” single that I always liked. As Thalie recounted the tragedy of Cassandra, offering prophesy ultimately unheard, slashing guitars added their sting to the chaotic, roiling mix.

“No Surrender” began via rhythm guitar untied with an Armenian zurna for a churning mixture of Eastern and Western textures to disrupt and unsettle our expectations. Pounding drums juxtaposed against pizzicato strings mixed delicacy and brutality into a paradoxical cocktail of delicacy and force. The percussive movement of the middle eight offered a calm within the storm before the song turned back on itself to build to its climax before ultimately dropping out except for the dying embers of a loop fading out.

Thalia was drawing from Greek and Armenian traditions in creating “Catarsi Apotropaica,” or “apotropaic catharsis.” An incantation to banish curses and dark omens. Such as what haunts the land currently. More we can’t ask from music. To engage with the difficult work of righteous living in a time where fear, corruption, and mayhem drip down the walls of this mad world.

Thalie brought a voice to the music here that reminded me of Curve’s Toni Halliday. It fit the Eastern modalities at play very well, and it hardly mattered whether she was singing in French or English as the intent came through loud and clear. We are eager to see where she goes next on her journey. But is it our tragedy to ignore the voice of this Modern Cassandra? Not if we invest the $6.00 to buy this EP at bandcamp! DJ hit that button.

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