Montreal industrial post-punk solo project Renonce announces a new album, Ombre. Created by Frédéric Nogarède (Adam Strangler, TRSTSS, Dédoublement) in 2021, this debut album was produced by the Toronto industrial duo Odonis Odonis.
“Ombre is a pejorative image of our society and calls for a chaotic dance in a concert hall around the corner, a firewall to collective depression,” Nogarède says.
For Renonce, Ombre is all about exploring the shadow – that hidden, negative part of humanity that’s increasingly seeping into the collective consciousness. Individualism, capitalism, violence, and inequalities make up the pejorative image of our society that the album seeks to expose. Renonce refuses to wallow in despair, however: that negativity must instead become cathartic and transformative.
Each track on Ombre is accompanied by an original analogue photograph, which serves as inspiration for the lyrics. This is not a lighthearted affair. Cathartic lyrical themes abound, tackling everything from nihilism to the North American capitalist nonsense of the 21st century. At the heart of it all is a sense of existential malaise and unease that permeates every note and every word.
With industrial bangers that’ll make you want to stomp your boots, and atmospheric interludes that’ll send shivers down your spine, this record is a wild ride from start to finish. Ombre is not for the faint of heart. Nogarède’s influences are clear: the gritty, pulsating beats of late-80s industrial legends like NIN, Einstürzende Neubauten, Suicide, and Ministry. But Renonce is not content to simply regurgitate those sounds – those influences have evolved into a relentless assault on the senses, with fuzzed-out guitars, gothic synths, and high-tempo, heart-racing beats. Nogarède’s effects-laden voice is like a controlled explosion in French, adding to the controlled chaos of the whole affair. It’s a bold, uncompromising statement from an artist who knows exactly what they want to say – and how to say it.
It’s not all darkness and aggression – the atmospheric elements offer a much-needed breather from the onslaught, with haunting melodies and eerie soundscapes. The lone English track, “Lost Cause,” – was recorded as a duo with Jared Artaud of The Vacant Lots (and producer of the post-mortem works of Suicide’s Alan Vega). It’s a standout moment on an already standout album.
For those willing to confront the darkness head-on, it just might be the perfect soundtrack.
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