Viva la Tonnerre!
Heavy, blues-based rock that you can dance to! Quebec rockers TONNERRE emerge with “La nuit sauvage”, a heavy dose 70s-inspired rock that takes cues from AC/DC and Blue Öyster Cult – complete with French-sung lyrics!
There is something in the air in rural Quebec, Canada. Known for its deep, long winters, not to mention its thick, unyielding forests, Quebec’s pastoral beauty evokes the kind of prolonged, deep-into-the-night gatherings by a fire (with some libations, too) that some can only dream about.
But for the members of TONNERRE, it is part of the fabric that brought them together to create a timeless form of blues-based rock that bobs the head and shakes the hips. The band’s debut album, “La nuit sauvage”, was created from the very nights the band spent in the countryside with friends, drinking the aforementioned beer while telling stories and listening to music. And like night itself, “La nuit sauvage” is an album that gets darker and more mysterious as it unfolds.
Most of TONNERRE have known each other for nearly 20 years, including lead guitarist Patrick Pageau and bassist Jeff Laflamme, who played in the now-defunct Bastardator. Patrick, vocalist Annick and rhythm guitarist François are the founding members of Cauchemar, in which Patrick played drums until 2013. Annick and François have continued with Cauchemar, while Patrick started Asile and Durs Coeurs. The missing piece was found in 2022 when they met drummer Arnaud Geoffroy in the rural town of Ripon. Arnaud also plays in S‘cuse and happens to be a master brewer (!), which further cemented their friendship around such a cherished beverage.
That connectivity rings true throughout “La nuit sauvage”. Recorded in a remarkable six months after the band’s first jam session, the album purveys the kind of undeniable, freewheeling, loose hard rock that first came to be in the 1970s. And, behind Annick’s French-sung vocals, the album perfectly captures the feeling and spirit of “La nuit sauvage”, which translates to “a night in the wild.” It symbolizes those very nights of TONNERRE partying with their friends but also about the wild spirits that haunt the forest, the animals that hunt at night, the northern lights, the stars, and the long shadows cast by the fire. It’s about all the weird noises that you hear in the dark, but you don’t know what they are.
LINE-UP
Annick – Vocals
Patrick – Lead guitar
François – Rhythm guitar
Jeff – Bass
Arnaud – Drums
REVIEW
Since listening to the SORTILEGE reissue last year, French language metal has been something of a growing interest of mine. I think French, like German and Japanese, is a language that just works with metal for some reason. Enter TONNERRE, meaning “thunder” in English, who are hardly newcomers to the scene.
As far as album covers go, I gotta say, I like it a lot. It’s simplistic, but solid and it stands out. Same goes for the logo on the cover itself. As for the logo below, from the promo package, it’s just so over the top that I love it too. It’s fun stuff.
“La nuit sauvage” began with some great hard rock riffing, and the overall vibe of the song really reminded me of Bon Scott-era AC/DC. The cadence in the way Annick delivered her vocals were top notch, and despite me knowing approximately 10 French words, I was able to follow her through the track with ease. While it wasn’t anything flashy, it was good ole rock n roll.
“Le grand corbeau” was a bit on the heavier side at first, with another banger of a riff. I really liked the drumming in this one, can’t quite pinpoint as to why, it just had that rock n roll feel to it. Again, French just works for heavy metal/hard rock music, and I can’t explain why.
“La brunante” has my favorite riff thus far, just an all around iconic banger. It’s the kind that one can’t help but bob their head. Throw in a great guitar solo, and some infectious vocals, and you’ve already got a winner on your hands. But the great drum and bass that kept up the rhythm in the background was the icing on the cake.
“Ceux qui sommeillent” was more of the same bit of great hard rock we’d gotten thus far, but it was here that I noticed something. This album is tailor-made for driving around and just jamming out. I consider this the ultimate means of telling whether an album is good or not. There are maracas, or something similar, in this song and that is an automatic two thumbs up. We need a wider variety of instruments in our metal and hard rock.
“La danse du feu” is how we’ll close out the first half of the record, and I was really into the groove with this one. In a way that I really can’t explain, but this one was just exactly what I needed. Maybe it was the smooth bass interlude, or the addition of more maracas, but this was my favorite track so far. Stellar guitar work here as well!
“Les enfants de la nuit” opened with a brief operatic cry out of the track title, followed by some more solid riffage. The delivery of the vocals is so crisp here, and it makes me want to check out Annick’s other work in CAUCHEMAR. The way the chorus is sang, with the other members of the band providing backing vox, it really takes this track to the next level.
“L’esprit de la forêt” was the shortest track on the album at just less than 3 minutes, but TONNERRE made up for it with a great little banger. Once again, the vocals are without a doubt the show-stealer here, but I have to also commend the drumming of Arnaud, as well as the ripping guitar work. Also, it was here that I noticed that I know a bit more French than I thought I did (I’ve been guessing the song translations). Absolutely love that last wail on the guitar!
“Les flambeaux du ciel” began and within seconds I was feeling it. What’s to say that I haven’t already said? This album is just straight up bluesy hard rock and it makes no qualms to be anything else. There’s a sort of simplicity, not in a bad way, to it that I respect. Loving this small, but growing, blues/hard rock revival we’re in right now, and it’s mostly Canadian bands.
“Mouches à feu” was one that didn’t really connect with me on the levels of the other tracks, but I went back for a second listen. The opening guitar work is some downright masterful stuff, and ooh that bass through the track is divine. It’s got a real thump to it that I love. That second listen paid dividends! Great track!
“L’auror” began with some soft drumming and cymbals before an incredible cry on guitar. That’s what really shined on this album, the guitar work. Both François, who’s been doing an amazing job at rhythm on this album, and Patrick were performing at 11. All told, this was another solid track, and a great way to close out the album.
CONCLUSION
This brand of blues-infused hard rock won’t be for everyone, and that’s fine, that’s the point of art. There’s something for everyone! For me, “La nuit Sauvage” really worked for me. Between this, HERZEL, TRUST, and SORTILEGE I wonder if I should’ve decided to learn French instead of German.
TheNWOTHM Score: 8/10
TONNERRE’s “La Nuit Sauvage” released on 12 April, 2024
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The Nwothm 
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