FANGE – Privation – LP+CD

Born out of shared obsessions for stark aesthetics, bold moves and uncomfortable sounds, FANGE’s music never stopped evolving since their inception in 2013, transfiguring their sludge roots with death metal then industrial influences. A singularity affirmed with an unexpected, brutal switch to drum machines in late 2019. If the first half of the pandemic saw the breton band exploring their new-found sound over a slab of savage releases (“Pudeur”, “Poigne” and “Pantocrator”), the second half was willingly spent off-grid, fully dedicated to their next move.
The result appears under the form of “Privation”, their fourth full-length. Clocking in at 40 minutes and seven tracks, the now-quartet raises the bar at every single level to serve their vision : writing more memorable, emotionally-charged tracks without sacrificing the maniacal abrasion of their previous material. This album appears as FANGE’s most expressive work, not afraid to balance their trademark wall of noise with more tempered elements, with clean guitars channeling the bleakness of post-punk and cold wave. Pursuing that same intent, vocals appear more versatile and nuanced than ever, while the striking work on sound design and production unveils new details with every listen. “Privation” is nothing but a tour-de-force in a now rock-solid discography, from a band that ignores how to play it safe, nor how to fulfill anything else than their own desires.