Le Prix du Sang et des Larmes is French band Sturm's debut album. I have no idea how many members there are to this band, or who plays what, etc. due to the fact that there was no information provided with the promo CD. A search of the internet failed to elucidate the picture, because all that the label and band websites had to offer were scant information. Perhaps the band are trying to perpetuate an aura of mystery.

So what about the music? The best decription would be neo-classical martial music. The album starts off with some woodwinds and horns, then adds some keyboards and martial percussion. That's pretty much all there is to it, unfortunately.

The music is competently performed, and to be on the positive side, it isn't nearly as overblown and bombastic as some of the "war" music I've heard. Actually, it is for the most part gentle, and it doesn't really change direction very much at all. What really holds it back is the martial percussion, which is prevalent throughout most of the album. It's so regimented and confining that it gives the other musicians nowhere to go.

The best description that I can offer of this album is that it sounds like background music to a war themed video game. The theme of war is a fairly tenuous one for anyone to meddle with; the problem with martial music is that it's difficult to tell whether the intention is to glorify or vilify war. Le Prix du Sang et des Larmes doesn't answer that question, and honestly doesn't provide enough excitement for me to want to find out.