EMPEREUR - "Eau Rouge" Album Review
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"Eau Rouge" is the first full length album by Belgian post-punk act Empereur. This release not only reinforces the acid/electronic flavour already present in their previous EPs, but it actually takes it to a more definite post-punk direction. With elements from overseas acts such as Ditz, Cabbage, and Idles, this band displays an animated communal spirit that melts shards of scorching post-punk into a manifesto of psych-rock euphoria. "Amor Fati" shows a mix of predominantly UK influences, with an opening worthy of a band like Chalk. Rich in vocal repetitions, it builds to an electrifying crescendo and release. The spoken message is bare and powerful "I am just a amoeba, you are just an amoeba, we are all no one". This form of harsh social commentary is a trademark and a constant throughout the album. In "Trompe-L’Œil" they have crafted a sound that’s exotic, industrial and euphoric at once. It’s built for dimly lit clubs where the guitar rattles through your bones. If we were to create an absurd mash-up of "Modern Men", "Volcan", "The Cramps", and "Ditz", we would probably get something that sounds remotely like this song. "Eau Rouge" is an adrenaline-spiking headrush of volcanic sensationalism. One of the shortest tracks in the album (three minutes per track is already too much to scream into the void). Their sound itself can sometimes be an overwhelming beast. It ranges from a whimpering piece of Cramps-esque angst, to well defined bass lines spurring on demonic vocals. "Electric" is a ruthlessly formidable track, reminiscent of early Black Flag in its ability to channel a chainsaw echoing through a bashed amp. But Empereur are not just about classic references or a trip down memory lane. All in all, this act is anything but "classic". Their music and lyrical range goes from intoxicating hysteria into arenas of almost adolescent fury, a howling rage so powerful and confused that feels like adding chaos to more chaos. They are not conforming or committing to a specific genre or sub-genre. Cruising away from the many others post-punk bands, they ramp up the odds with a dirty surf punk and garage rock sound with a synth-wave edge that still captures the anthems in between the mess of lovely chaos. Melding euphoric trance elements with the ferocity of pounding repetitive segments, ‘Mania’ is a stand out track and a testament to their unique ability to juxtapose contrasting sounds into an exhilarating whole. It's mania both in name and sound. Closing track "Unisson" compiles many of the record’s more satisfying moments. The production is dynamic and imaginative, conjuring a kind of weird, paranoid, speed-freak climax. The song itself is a rumbling leviathan hauling itself in agonising, ear-wrenching fashion towards the finish line. Empereur set themselves apart from the rest of the scene as they evolved to include ‘90s dance, ‘80s goth, 70's classic punk and whatever else sparked something within them. The post-punk confines become more and more blurry thanks to original music acts like this one. What is even post-punk today? I ask you. In the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of modern music, Brussels Empereur are a beacon of raw, unrestrained talent and innovation.
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