NAUFRAAGE
Photo Credit 📷 : @veuvescarron
Bathing in the noises of decay and washes of ambient pads I feel anxiety for my anxiety. I can anticipate the path I must travel, I can envision the dangerous byways between Scylla and Charybdis as my boat seeks refuge from the tumultuous waters. I am greeted by the putrid froth, a sound that is called forth from the belly of Chraybdis, whose whirlpools rage as the saltwater rushes from its mouth, enveloping me…
This is the sound of “Le festin de décadents,” from the blackened screamo meets post-metal outfit NAUFFRAGE. We’re beyond excited to collaborate on this single release from the French duo. Matt and Seb are longtime collaborators. Veterans of the French screamo scene may recall their past projects Madame de Montespan (2007-2010) and Cathedraal (2012, 2022). The group is supported by producer / collaborator Ténèbre on this release, who helps to hone the vision that has been crafted and refined over nearly 20 years.
Digging deeper into the writing process of the band, songwriting starts with Seb at home in Angers, drafting sketches of new songs then shipping it to Matt in Paris where the work on vocal patterns, lyrics, harmonies, and ambience is crafted. Finally, Ténèbre “dissects the track and orders [the band] to make a few hundred changes,” the band writes, “we re-record everything, he asks for fifty more changes, and a month later, we have a song!” A demanding process, but clearly the destination has made the journey fulfilling.
Ténèbre’s production is distinct and builds upon the foundation that Seb and Matt created in their earliest efforts. The screamo scene of the early and mid-aughts is still reflected in Matt’s vocal patterns and stylings, where I’m reminded much of bands like Birds in Row. Yet there is a maturation to the sound as Matt leans into the progressive metal and post-metal, demonstrating his range as he moves effortlessly from French brethren Celeste to European post-metal heavyweights the Ocean.
Sonically, Seb’s guitar work runs the gamut of influences. The 7-string guitars favored by the latest and greatest of djent guitarists aren’t the darlings of the screamo scene, but Seb uses the extended range of the instrument to paint with a palette that reminds you of Gojira or Tesseract, doing black metal while leaning into a post-metal influence before the song puts you in mind of a Chelsea Wolfe and Converge collaboration (get about 2-minutes into the track, you’ll know). While the drum break into the just barely distorted high note at the 3-minute mark reminds you what this duo cut their teeth on and how they’ve refined their sound over the years.
“THE IDEA IS TO LISTEN TO THE RECORD IN ONE SITTING, LIKE WATCHING A MOVIE. IT’LL BE VARIED ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING, AND WE HOPE THAT LISTENERS WILL TAKE OFF THEIR HEADPHONES AT THE END WITH THE SAME FEELING THEY GET AFTER A GOOD FILM - LIKE THEY’VE JUST EXPERIENCED SOMETHING.”
- SEB @NAUFRAAGE
Lyrically, if my earlier metaphors left no hints, I am brought to torrents of the sea and the sirens’ call. With the lyrics translated into English, Matt sings, Deprived of bearings / drifting in your wake / They lure you with their charms / Drawing you away from the shores, into vile crashing waves, and I cannot stop thinking about the parallel between feeling lost and scared and trying to grab hold to something, anything, that lets you feel like you’re above water and the dangers of upswell of far right authoritarianism throughout the globe, a sentiment the band shares.
You get the first listen of “Le festin de décadents” at Not Just a Phase and I hope you’re as fucking amped about this track as I am. You can find Naufraage on Bandcamp (linked below) and other streaming platforms. Both this single and the track from fall of 2024 reflect the tremendous effort the duo has put into their craft and I urge you not to sleep on this.
