Hacride: The ‘Other’ French Metal Band

When it comes to French metal bands, since they are so rare, most fans think of Gojira first. But the mighty Gojira aren't the only Francophile metallers out there. Meet Hacride, the 'other' French metal band! "I think we are compared a lot to them, but it's because we are from the same country and people don't hear that much of French metal, so there are not so many bands to be compared to I guess," vocalist Simon Bourreau told Noisecreep. "We really like Gojira, but I think we are different, and we are closer to other bands from France."

France has never exported metal by the boatload, but there is still a scene there. "We were in Norway last week at Hole In the Sky Festival. We saw how metal is more 'normal' in that country than in France. I might say rock 'n' roll in general, by the way. We didn't really take part in the story of blues or rock 'n' roll, apart from having New Orleans players coming to Paris, as well as Jim Morrison dying in one of our bars there. The same goes for hard rock and metal. The only exception is the song 'Antisocial,' the song by French band Trust, but best known as a cover by Anthrax.

"I think nothing is definitive, and French bands are really working hard to build something new and strong in the history of metal. We can see the things changing, with more professional bands, technicians, studios and labels than before, and a volition to go aboard and play. It'd be interesting to ask us or other French bands the same question five years from now, so we can see how things have changed. I'm pretty confident so I hope French metalheads and bands will not blow it or waste the positive energy."

Musically, Hacride aren't easy to classify. "I used to say we play progressive metal. We like variation in music and to change from extreme to atmospheric," Bourreau said. "Our last album, 'Lazarus,' is a concept album about the Lazarus phenomenon, which got its name from the story of the resurrection of St. Lazarus in the Bible. It happens when people have an NDE -- near death experience -- and come back to life not being anymore in adequacy with the world they live in. We're describing the feelings, interrogations, lunacy, calm and storm in someone's head. Our main character is not mad, but is close to the edge. I think it can relate to everyone cause we all had this feeling at least once in a lifetime."