Détresse – Misères
Release Date: 9th October 2026
Label: Vendetta Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal
FFO: Sanctvs, Firtan, Gevurah, Angest, Wandar.
Review By: Aeons Burning
Québécois/Austrian-based Détresse are releasing their new album Misères this Friday, just over a year after their first record, Pessimismes. Such a quick turnaround can either indicate a lack of quality control, as seen with plenty of various underground black metal bands, or it can indicate a drive to release as much good music as possible, as both facets are true in the underground. One of the things that impressed me the most on Pessimismes was the extremely prominent bass, done by none other than CS (Gevurah live) and thankfully this monster of a bass sound continues on Détresse’s sophomore effort. But in a year filled with high-quality releases, how does this stand out?
Thankfully, pretty high if you want bass-heavy black metal that also happens to be sketch-free (thankfully Vendetta Records has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to working with Nazis), and Détresse (French for hopelessness) are very adept at making mournful-sounding blackened dirges that are a great counterpart for the autumn season. Verrottet in particular has a lovely riff-driven approach instead of just mindless trem-picking over and over that highlights not only the bass but also does a good job of letting vocalist and guitarist SP (Angest) explore his rather complex range that includes both standard Austrian-style vocals as well as lovely chants. Détresse also does a fantastic job at channeling the sound Wandar went for on their magnificent latest opus Tiefe erde across Misères, and this slower-paced, bass-heavy black metal is a treat to listen to, especially when I’m trying to lock in and finish work projects.
My only gripe with Misères is the final track. Verloren feels a bit hastily tacked on, as the closing track of Pessimismes did too, being a purely acoustic outro rather than feeling like a fully fleshed-out closing track. Verloren is by no means a bad track, yet it leaves me wanting more or at least end on So Bitter, So Kalt rather than this. This is a minor nitpick, though, because I’m pleased with the level of quality on display here. Détresse have made another solidly enjoyable, deeply melancholic and hypnotic record in Misères, and while this won’t make any album of the year lists, this is an easy recommendation to any who is a fan of the primarily Austrian sound of black metal made famous by the various bands on the Art of Propaganda roster. Perhaps Détresse will spend a little more time cooking for album three, or perhaps it will arrive at some point next year. Either way, I’m eagerly awaiting more.
(3 / 5)
