The first album by Ménades, Sur Leurs Cendres, delivers on all its promises. Chaotic, free, and furious, it’s an album to devour. Review.
SUR LEURS CENDRES – MÉNADES
Mysterious in French, biting in English, and vice versa, Ménades doesn’t shy away from any inspiration in making Sur Leurs Cendres a memorable record. La Lune begins with beautiful sparks, intertwining textures, and an atmosphere somewhere between psychedelic and a thriller. The band then bursts into a more acidic rock with Good Partner, memorable for its melody and bite! Hammer doesn’t fall short either, with an effective chorus and its anger, at first restrained, then passionate and raw. This isn’t the last time Ménades will let this intense emotion surge, summoning it again on the violent, cathartic, and explosive Une Balle de Plus.
Angels Drive Fast blends mystery, anxiety, and pain, conjuring spectral forms without fully resolving the riddle of their identity. Rage returns with Sur Leurs Cendres, a post-punk anthem that’s hard to resist. Ménades continues to take us to dark, vibrant places, leading the way with the seductive Lonesome Cowgirl Dance. The band then dares to slow down – just a little. Though Smile has beautiful light, it’s a track that carries a chilling aura.
For me, La Reine Du Trottoir perfectly encapsulates the band’s world, both in its audaciously strong, irreverent lyrics, and in its bold, brutal energy. Reckless follows, and it marks a real contrast, the true slowing of the album. Quieter, folkier, gentler, the band shows they are capable of more than just fury. The final track, City Cries, blends all these elements together. Emotional, vivid, contrasting, and still a bit furious, it’s a beautiful song to close this record. With Sur Leurs Cendres, Ménades reveals itself as a band not to be missed on the post-punk scene, thanks to a world full of myths and sincerity.
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