Alta Rossa works on its medication.
Antoine Lauzel (vocals), David “Dess” Demesmay (bass), Jordan Daverio (guitar), Thomas Dubois (guitar) and Mathieu Martinazzo (drums) return two years after their previous production with A Defiant Cure, their second album, still on Source Atone Records.
Dissonance immediately fills the air as Exalted Funeral kicks off, later welcoming the hoarse vocals, reinforcing the sense of oppression and unsettling heaviness while adding an even more aggressive touch. The band does, however, indulge in a few more soaring passages, before giving way to Delusion and its occasionally energetic rhythm that slows down to temper the fury before exploding again. The sound calms down once more before giving life to The Emperors‘ stirring, jerky groove, which grabs us by the throat and savagely bludgeons us at first, then slows down and gradually picks up again. We finally take a breather with Daedalus, a disquieting aerial interlude that returns to saturation as we arrive at The Art Of Tyrant #SlashTheMinotaur, the longest composition on the album, which opens with mystical tones and a few choirs. The howling vocals then resurface and are joined by waves of raw power contrasting with the more haunting passages, before being subjected again to quietude as we join Where We Drown Our Nightmares, where the band grant us another gentle pause. The atmosphere slowly intensifies, then From This Day On takes over, offering futuristic tones crushed by thick ultra-pessimistic Sludge, as on Stratification, which gradually builds on the aggression before completely letting go of the reins thanks to unleashed drums. The anguished final rubs off on Fields Of Solar Flames, which unveils its unfathomable riffs that crash down on us at regular intervals with an end-of-the-world ambience, then And Chaos Fell Silence… encloses us in its suffocating veil one last time, with barely any bursts of vitality after half the track.
Alta Rossa‘s universe is darker than ever. On A Defiant Cure, the band’s approach is so oppressive and abrasive that you literally feel trapped in their music, almost developing a Stockholm syndrome!
90/100
A few questions for Alta Rossa about the release of their new album, A Defiant Cure.
Hello, and thank you for your time! It’s been two years since we last spoke. How do you see the band’s evolution?
Alta Rossa: Thank you for taking the time. We’ve always found Acta Infernalis fascinating, so the exchange is a pleasure. For us, our desires in terms of sound color, influences and pure compositions are better digested in a more raw sincerity, and emotion has a greater place in it. Our lives and desires have evolved, as has our music. Together, we took the time to fine-tune our arrangements in pre-production, seeking that point of balance where our sensibilities resonated. It’s a real group effort, with everyone contributing their own vision and desires. We manage almost everything on our own: dates, administration, grant applications… it’s a DIY spirit, but a deeply collective DIY.
Your new album, A Defiant Cure, will be out in a few weeks. How do you feel about it?
Alta Rossa: I’m really looking forward to it, especially the idea of defending it live on stage. We’re really proud of this record, it sounds exactly as we imagined it. Source Atone Records even made it possible to release it on vinyl, with two superb editions that were very close to our hearts. Seeing this album physically come to life is a cool thing to experience.
How would you sum up A Defiant Cure in three words?
Alta Rossa: Three words? Difficult, but certainly: rage, melancholy and hope. More temperate, almost Doomy passages are mixed with atmospheric moods, as in Fields of Solar Flames or Stratification. Anger is never far away, it remains our essence, but we wanted to go further, to vibrate with melodies that touch us. It’s this sincerity that guides us, and that ties in with the themes of the lyrics, sometimes written before even a single note of music.
The album A Defiant Cure comes out two years after Void Of An Era. Why did you choose this name and what does it mean? What has happened to the band in two years?
Alta Rossa: Void Of An Era was written before the lockdown, in gloomy times, but we’re in “the world after”. There’s still that spark, that strength that stops us sinking or becoming complicit in what we hate. Despite the bleak context, fatalism is not our way out. A Defiant Cure embodies this resistance, this will to find a remedy in the collective, in a hope that materializes through force when necessary.
There’s a more intense darkness and oppression than on your previous album. Have your influences changed?
Alta Rossa: More than an evolution in influences, it’s the way we work that has changed. We locked ourselves away in residence, exploring every arrangement, every nuance. In the studio, we had the freedom to experiment, whether it was with the choice of cymbals, amps, speakers, etc… This intense process gave the album a dark, assumed tinge, perhaps more digestible than on the first. Tracks like The Emperors and Delusion come from this period, but have found their full place here… It’s a pretty titanic job that we could never have done without Thomas Fournier, who took care of the recording, mixing and mastering. Finally, we take your question as a compliment!
The Art Of Tyrant #SlashTheMinotaur is the longest track on the album, but it also marks its central point, surrounded by two shorter interludes. How did you composed this song and how did you arrange it on the album?
Alta Rossa: The text was born out of a dive into art, inspired by a podcast on Picasso, where the tyranny exercised by this painter touched us deeply. The words came almost by themselves, and then the music, in rehearsal, became an obvious accompaniment to this text charged with sadness, rage and commitment. We also wanted to include a female voice. The choice of our friend Lauve, with whom Jordan worked on her first EP, was a natural one, despite her distance from the metal scene, and all the better for it. Putting the spotlight on female artists is a cause close to our hearts, and even though we’re five men, we’re very supportive and enthusiastic about supporting initiatives like More Women On Stage & Backstage, for example. In the end, The Art Of Tyrant stood out as the central track on the album, intense but never disconnected from the rest.
What were your guidelines for the artwork? How did the collaboration with Simon Chognot (Blaeks) go?
Alta Rossa: That’s a very good tie-in with the previous question, because originally the track was going to be called Minotaur, but a French band had a similar title and cover. We changed the title to avoid redundancy, but the idea remained the same. We sent in some music and lyrics and Simon was given carte blanche, and knowing his talent, we knew the result would be faithful to our vision.
I know this is a difficult question, but do you have a favorite track on this album? Or the one that seemed the most natural to compose?
Alta Rossa: I think each member has his own preference, but there are two tracks we’ve chosen as singles and clips: The Art Of Tyrant for its melancholy and From This Day On for its snarling. These tracks bring together all our influences, from Doom and Black to Hardcore and Sludge.
A Defiant Cure is out on Source Atone Records, so how did the collaboration go? Why did you choose to renew your trust in them for this new project?
Alta Rossa: We’re really pleased that they agreed to release this second album. As soon as we had the first premixes, we sent them to them without delay, and it seems they got hooked straight away. After one or two meetings to discuss planning and vinyl colors, we were ready to go! The first collaboration had gone wonderfully smoothly and quickly. What’s more, to be associated with a roster of such solid bands as Junon, Membrane and Sunstare was a real stroke of luck. They were also joined by Yann, from Parlor and the late Saar, and even organized their first festival in early 2024. It was a great event, and we hope the initiative will only grow! As with the album, seeing things evolve together is everything we’re looking for.
Unfortunately, I haven’t yet had the chance to see you in action. How would you describe an Alta Rossa live show in a few words? How do you experience it as a band?
Alta Rossa: First of all, if you ask, we’re happy to oblige! When it comes to live shows, we really focus on intensity and energy. We take our lighting engineers on board with us in this approach, because beyond the sound, we want to create an equally powerful visual impact. On stage, it’s more than a concert, it’s a real outlet for us. See the cream for muscle pain? It’s not there to decorate the suitcase, believe me! For the next few dates, we’re experimenting with different configurations. On shorter sets, we’ll let loose with raw violence, while on longer formats, we’ll give ourselves a moment or two of respite – but just to build up momentum. We’re also thinking about having something visually striking, and we’re trying to think of and work on a few “scenographic” elements for the sequel. There’s no question of leaving the stage with a dry T-shirt. For us, it’s essential to convey something physical, visceral, and to experience it intensely. Never compromise.
What are the next projects for Alta Rossa?
Alta Rossa: We’re currently preparing the release of a new clip/single, which may arrive at the same time as the publication of this interview, just before the official release of the album scheduled for November 22nd. As far as concerts are concerned, we’ll be in Lyon on November 22 at Rock N Eat to celebrate the album release as part of the Deathawaits Fest Warm Up. After that, we’ll be celebrating at home, in Besançon, at La Rodia on January 23rd, where we’ve got a few surprises in store for you… you’ll have to come and see for yourself! At the same time, we’re starting to book dates for 2025 and are waiting for some feedback on projects that are still a little “secret”. Nothing confirmed yet. The priority right now is to play as much as possible to promote A Defiant Cure.
Are there any musicians or artists you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Alta Rossa: For the moment, there’s nothing concrete in sight, but we’re seriously thinking about bringing Lauve on stage for The Art Of Tyrant. It would be a real pleasure and honor to have her on stage with us.
Do you think you’ve improved as musicians with this album?
Alta Rossa: As musicians in a band, we’ve clearly evolved. The synergy between us and the way we work have been very enriching. A natural division of roles was established. Because in a band like ours, the music isn’t everything; there’s the whole logistical aspect to manage. And through it all, we’ve really grown.
Last time, you compared Alta Rossa‘s music to vegan couscous. Do you maintain this comparison for the new album?
Alta Rossa: Why the hell did you hold that comparison? Haha. Of course, the comparison still stands, except that our table has grown bigger, with chairs for anyone who wants to sit down, and perhaps a much more generous dose of harissa too. The dish will always be hot, because we want to share, tell stories and hear new ones. Authentic tales, utopias, theories, disappointments… We have no desire for nostalgia. We don’t want a world that thinks it was better before!
That was my last question, so thank you for your availability, and the last words are yours!
Alta Rossa: Thank you, it’s always a pleasure to talk to you. We hope to see you at a concert, and to see you again in the future! Once again, we’re really happy and proud to be releasing this album on Source Atone Records. Don’t hesitate to pre-order it on the label’s website, come to a concert, buy merch or just chat. Our music is also available through the Season Of Mist distribution network. So don’t hesitate to follow us on networks, streaming platforms, etc… and pester your local programmers to play us! Thank you for your interest.