Détresse – Pessimismes

Written by on 18-05-2025 at 20:00.

Canada and Austria are quite far apart, are they not? However, despite that distance, the band members in this Détresse have managed to find each other. Of course, working together across long distances is not that difficult any more nowadays. This is also how this trio has succeeded in handing over Pessimismes to us via Vendetta records: indeed, the music arrived at my digital doorstep. Which is for the better, as the Belgian postal services have not even managed to deliver packages safely to my front door in recent weeks and even months.

Does the band not ring a bell? Very possible, this record being the very first. And further? Well, little else to report. I cannot immediately find if or in which other bands the members are active or have been active. I do notice that the band played at the Messe Des Morts festival in Canada last year, and you can immediately catalogue that as a letter of nobility. Any nice teasers or video clips? Nope, nothing at all at the time, at least at the time of writing this review.

So let’s just listen to the music and let’s be honest: that’s still the essence. It sounds a bit muffled during the first bars, which isn’t really a bad thing to start with. It immediately shows the foundations of this band: sincere and straightforward. Not too many frills are added to the music, the band consisting of only three members. Too bad the bass drum is somewhat lost in the whole because of the choice for this type of sound. Drummer L.S. does hit hard, however. Something you also hear in Der Alte Weg, a song that doesn’t lose any of its power being sung in the German language. For more than seven minutes the song takes you on a journey; in the background you will also hear some clear vocals.

It seems as if this Détresse likes to change sounds and rhythms, switching from blastbeats to dragging drum parts (and back again). But the band also changes from German to French in the lyrics. It gives the music, which often sounds monotonous and simple, the variation it needs. This way a connection is made with bands from the Austrian or German school. Which immediately means that the music from Détresse sounds more European than Canadian.

I am not immediately pessimistic after listening to this debut album of the Canadian/Austrian trio Détresse. The band’s music is pure and unadulterated, raw, rough, not too spicy yet tasty.

Score:

80/100

Label:

Vendetta Records, 2025

Tracklisting:

  1. Désarroi
  2. Der Alte Weg
  3. Vision Funeste
  4. In Asche Gehüllt
  5. Die Ruhe Trägt
  6. Pessimisme

Line-up:

  • S.P. –  Vocals, guitar
  • C.S. – Bass guitar
  • L.S. – Drums, vocals

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