The intensity continues with Yarotz.
The band from the Landes region had already shaken up the French scene in 2022, but four years later, Fabien Zwernemann (vocals/guitar), Vincent Perdicao (bass/vocals), and Enzo Laidi (drums) are back at it with Resurgence, their second album.
An ominous sound serves as a warning before The Rising Starts hits with full force, imposing dissonance and darkness even before the visceral screams kick in, significantly amplifying the intensity of the music. The track is still fairly short, serving as an introduction to the true chaos that unfolds without delay on Strengths and Fears, a far more aggressive track that draws on its hardcore roots to deliver catchy and effective patterns despite its potentially daunting length, and the heady rhythm even catches us off guard at times with a much slower passage. Hostilities resume immediately on Hysteric Souls with its infectious energy, which also leaves us entangled in desolate landscapes where melancholy is overwhelmingly abrasive – much like Four Dead Ends, which kicks into high gear once again to trample our minds before incorporating slightly more reassuring elements, almost even redeeming ones for newcomers. There’s a noisy interlude before we dive into The Breach, which immediately blasts our ears and rages on with waves of unpredictable violence, followed by a much calmer moment; then the final eruption leaves us with A Purifying Bath, which gives us a brief moment to catch our breath before igniting with even greater intensity. Here, too, there are no surprises from the trio, which adds piercing, dissonant touches to its aggressive patterns that tear at our eardrums before the respite graciously offered by Walked in the Sludge, which is much calmer but still somewhat heavy. The atmosphere grows tense, then Giving up the Ghosts imposes its raw rage upon us, along with harmonies that are at times a bit lighter, creating a contrast, as well as a central break featuring a sampled vocal before the sound becomes even more impressive. The final is as chaotic as one could hope for, but it’s ultimately with “Abyssal” that the band lays down its arms, first in a cozy cocoon of minimalist gentleness, then with haunting riffs that, though growing more dynamic, remain true to this intoxicating approach right through to the end, complete with a few little surprises.
Their debut album sounded like a cry from the heart: Resurgence is an evolution of that. Both rawer and more polished, it allows Yarotz to showcase his growth and artistic fulfillment, and although the influences remain chaotic, he knows exactly how to hit the right note.
90/100