This “Rendez Vous” there, impossible to forget! The Parisian quartet returns to the stage after four years of relative silence and an inner ferment that is just waiting to explode. Shall we meet in front of the Valley stage?
It was at the time when the magazine Les Inrockuptibles, certainly lacking inspiration, unearthed with each publication the rock group that France was waiting for. Rendez Vous was part of it at the time of the release of its first album, Superior State. In 2018. And he wasn’t wrong about that!
Six short years later, the Parisian quartet is back with a new album, Downcastcompletely stripped of its early cold wave side to take a much more grunge path, in any case more raw. “Wow, I feel like I’m on MTV in the 90s/2000s and I like it.”, exclaims an Internet user in the comments of this video posted on YouTube at the end of May. All is said…
What does metal represent for you, which is not your universe a priori?
Maxime (keyboards, percussion): It’s a genre for which we have a lot of esteem and affection, especially black metal. It’s something that we don’t feel that far from in terms of approach. The very sophisticated way of producing sound and the very advanced and obscure visual universe, these are things that speak to us and in which we find ourselves. Otherwise, we had already played at Motocultor a few years ago and it was one of our best festival experiences.
The metal crowd has a very good reputation.
What is the effect of playing at Hellfest?
Maxime : It’s sure it’s special, we all wanted to discover this festival and the metal public has a very good reputation. So, we can’t wait.
What’s funny is that when we announced that we were scheduled, it caused a huge reaction both from those close to us who are completely outside of music and from our more nerdy friends. There is no other festival for which we felt a reaction of this magnitude, it was really striking… So, we felt that it was important for people’s perception of the group.
How do you prepare for such an appointment?
Maxime : The preparation will be the same as for any other festival, namely shortening and adapting our setlist a little. We will perhaps have a little more pressure, because we know that the public will have seen lots of hyper technical groups with a huge sound before us ! But at the same time, the position of a group outside of metal is undoubtedly easier to stand out from.
What do you expect?
Maxime : Un wall of death.
The group, the album, the title or the live performance that marked you for life?
Maxime. For Elliot, Jerusalem of Sleep, for Francis, Antichrist Superstar by Marylin Manson, for Simon: Loveless from My bloody Valentine and for myself, The fat of the land de Prodigy.
We found ourselves setting up to play in a sort of abandoned factory in the suburbs of Moscow at -14, with approximate equipment…
Your best or most unpleasant tour anecdote?
Maxime : One of the best was probably when we went to Russia in 2018. We found ourselves setting up to play in a sort of disused factory in the suburbs of Moscow at -14, with approximate equipment… We were a little apprehensive and a few hours later the room was packed with people all screaming the lyrics in unison. It was moving to arrive there and find an audience totally into it, unfortunately, we’re not sure we’ll ever be able to go back…
What’s the stupid song that’s playing over and over in your head or on the tour bus?
Maxime : Over time, there were quite a few, one that we really stuck on was a cover of the dance track from the 2000s, Better Off Alone.
Rather MainStage, WarZone or Altar? What bands would you like to see at Hellfest for your passage ?
Maxime : In idea, we are very curious about the Altar scene. We would have liked to see Emperor… We would also like to see The Offspring, because for some, we were huge fans of Smash (the group’s third album, editor’s note) when we were teenagers.
Thank you Maxime, thank you Rendez Vous
Rendez-Vous will play at the Valley on Sunday June 30
More info on Rendez Vous here, on Hellfest here
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