Blasphème / Blaspheme

France’s Blaspheme dropped its eponymous debut album in 1983. Taking a detour from Satan-themed metal, “Jack L'éventreur” opens musing on Jack the Ripper as the band plays like its members shared a small record collection comprising Trust’s 1981 LP Marche Ou Crève and Iron Maiden’s first three albums. Singer Marc Fery’s falsettos push the margins of his range, yet allow plenty of room for Pierre Holzhaeuser’s impressive guitar work to stretch out and explore (as heard on the driving “Enfer Paradise”). Blaspheme also boasted an incredibly versatile rhythm section in bass player Philippe Guadignino and drummer Regis Martin, whose chemistry is best exemplified on “Sanctuaire,” an ever-changing standout that starts as a ballad before morphing into a galloping bout of adventure rock. “Magie Noire” deviates from metal trappings to let loose a hard-hitting number infused with a punk-rooted attack, especially when Guadignino uses a pick to play his bass with such ferocity that you can hear the strings buzzing against his fretboard.