“Violence fills my nerves starved of correction.“
There is a strong crop of hardcore bands coming through on the continent, whether it’s Lifecrusher in Switzerland, Blossom Decay in Germany, or Desdoren in Spain, who have all dropped impressive material this year. France has also been a central point of this, with the likes of Headbussa, Worst Doubt and Sorcerer all making deserved names for themselves. Coming through into a wider scene where the likes of Game Changer and Weak Link have thrived, it’s gives festivals such as Ieper Hardcore Fest a huge appeal.
Looking to join these ranks is Parisian unit Calcine, who emerged on the hardcore scene with their demo back in 2022. It cut through and since seen them play alongside the likes of Arkangel, Scowl, Sunami, Rotten Sound and many of their aforementioned peers. Now on their debut full-length and signed to Church Road Records, Calcine look to stake their claim, which they more than do on Common Love Common Nausea.
R&B beats usher in Common Love Common Nausea on opener “Attack to Win“. The sheer rage of Stef’s vocals already making their presence known, before fully erupting on “23:11“. A track taking on police violence head on, as Stef barks “Outrage, justice feasts on the guts of corruption“; the fury is matched with some neat groove work that even gives the bass a little moment to strum away.
It sets the tone for a record that is absolutely seething. “Back to Fight” lives up its name, putting forward a track that many will yearn to see live thanks to its brutal riffs and breakdowns. Early on it’s clear how tight the production is while keeping the thrash stylings is evident, as each kick, cymbal, and tom hits the ear in such a pleasing way while maintaining a hard-hitting nature. This applies to each other element, giving a satisfaction to the listen that allows each moment of dumb-heaviness to get through.
Common Love Common Nausea continues to take on the external and internal with “Target“, railing against the scapegoating of migrants, fighting back with “The world you dream is so pale, crisis come, racist reflex“. “Amnesic” yellings the lamenting lines of “Your dirt glued on me, it’s like a second skin“, with the instrumentals behind giving a certain unevenness to match the uncomfortable nature of these thoughts.
Exiting out on “Des vies à bout” and “Parasite“, the former has a rapped verse in their native tongue, serving a fitting opening moment for the grandiose nature of the last section. A more measured track, it allows for each twist and wrinkle of the grooves to come through, as “Parasite” puts forward “No respect for they have chosen hell” to call back on the themes throughout the record.
The more time spent with Common Love Common Nausea the more impressive it becomes. The production is immaculate and allows each moment to hit succinctly while making you want to just turn up the volume that little bit more. Potent and rightly pissed off vocals and lyrics make for a listen that won’t soon escape the imagination. This record should more than cement Calcine among noteworthy acts, not only in their local scene, but this side of the Atlantic too.
8/10
Common Love Common Nausea is out June 21st via Church Road Records and can be pre-ordered here.