Album Review: Cathedrale – Facing Death

Cathedrale come straight outta Toulouse’s burgeoning garage scene and they have now released their new full length, Facing Death, via Howlin’ Banana Records. It seems that there is something lurking just beneath the surface in France, with Toulouse seeming to be the capital of the gallic garage renaissance. Recently it has seemed like every band I have caught live from France, and every release I have received from that country, in the last few years has harked back to roots of the garage scene, Cathedrale are no exception as they have taken these influences and for the most part they have served them up neat.

The spaced out echoing introduction to Yet, So Easy leads you into believing this is going to turn into a Hawkwindian space epic but instead it abruptly heads off into hypnotic garage pop that ebbs and flows, whilst the subsequent track, I Think I Can, reminds me of The Libertines under the influence of hallucinogens. Facing Death continues to mine deep into an authentic vein of 60’s garage punk across it’s ten tracks, with a sound that is hewn from the same source as the legendary Rubble and Pebbles compilations. 

Cathedrale are yet another band that have added to the momentum that the current French garage scene is gaining, Facing Death is an album that is recommended for those that have any love for the roots of the punk scene as this is snotty garage pop delivered with a dose of hallucinatory psych and a typically gallic flair. Although much of Facing Death is embedded deep in the 60’s roots of the punk scene, my personal highlight from the album, Signal, reminds you of the direct link between the 60’s and 70’s punk scenes with a sub three minute moment of first wave punk perfection.

You can pre-order Facing Death via Howlin’ Banana Records here