Gaz Moutarde – Dans Les Boyaux

Under Watchful Eyes Records

 

Straight from the green fields of France comes Gaz Moutarde, the one-man project of Manu (Temps De Crise, Gévaudan) that released its first (and only) demo in the summer of 2019. Now, well over three years later, this demo – titled “Dans Les Boyaux” - is finally released on vinyl and it both looks and sounds better than ever before!

 

From a self-released CDr (50 copies made) to a full-fledged vinyl release on Under Watchful Eyes Records is quite the upgrade if you ask me! Not only is the record (literally) covered in (and with) the brilliant artwork of label hoss Muna, it also comes with an extra bonus-track (“Des Rats Et Des Poux”) and the songs are finally mastered, making sure these tracks will hit you with maximum power!

 

Nonetheless “Days Les Boyaux” still sounds very raw, though this perfectly fits with the theme of the album. The rough and melancholic sound Manu created with Gaz Moutarde, makes the subject of the LP – which is a homage to the fallen soldiers of the first World War – sound very grim and authentic, which is exactly what you want to when you handle a matter that is as somber as war.

 

For that reason it feels a little bit weird to be so enthusiastic about this album as I am, but I love every single bit of it! Musically it reminds me a lot of Paris Violence’s Oi! sound (though instead of the wave influences there are some light black metal influences) and themes (the “Pour Le Repos De Nos Âmes” EP or the “Ciels De Plomb Lueurs D’Azur” compilation for example), but with vile and burly vocals that match the rough and dreary sound. Fairly brilliant if you ask me!

 

Therefor I don’t understand Under Watchful Eyes Records still has copies available! Only 125 copies of “Dans Les Boyaux” were pressed and it looks beautiful all the way through! From the artwork on the sleeve, the fold-out lyric sheet and the light blue vinyl, to the full-color illustration pressed on the B-side (all seven songs can be found on the A-side), Muna really gave it all he got with this release and it shows! Just buy it now or regret it later.