Musical Remedial Guide | Pierre-Marc Durivage’s list

After (another) year rich in musical love at first sight, here are the songs that have passed the test of time in the headphones of our journalists.

MarianneNorth Wind

Le Vent du Nord reaffirms, with 20 Spring, his status as a pillar of Quebec tradition. The group highlights the musical terroir of the country with as much respect as originality, and the powerful Marianne, with its Arabic scales, is the best example. Experiencing the piece in concert will remain an unforgettable memory.

Omensfrom Lamb of God

Lamb of God persists and signs with Omens, a brutal album that bears witness to the state of mind of the metal quintet from Virginia. On the title track, the guitars of Willie Adler and Mark Morton and the drums of Art Cruz are at the same time precise, groovy and hard-hitting, while Randy Blythe roars his anger without filter. The message is getting through more than ever.

Rats Returnfrom Porcupine Tree

A figurehead of contemporary post-prog, Porcupine Tree returned this year with CLOSURE/CONTINUATION as if there had been a temporal ellipsis since The Incidentlaunched in 2009. Having become a trio, Steven Wilson’s band has not aged a bit, the extract Rats Return being one of the great proofs that there is always room for progress in progressive rock.

The Dropfrom Sports Team

A healthy breath of fresh air, Sports Team exults happiness with contagious punk energy. Spiritual children of Franz Ferdinand and the Hives, the six weaklings know how to lay frankly well-crafted melodies on which hang texts tinged with an implacable British humor. The Drop illustrates well what Sports Team is heating up, but it is strongly advised to savor Gulp! in a row.

Flash Burns From Flashbacksfrom The Mars Volta

After a 10-year hiatus, Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala have restarted their vehicle The Mars Volta, much to the delight of their followers. The bet was daring, with a much more accessible formula, with also many more references to their Mexican roots. “Our own interpretation of pop,” Bixler-Zavala said of this new material. The pleasure increases with use.

Thin Thingfrom The Smile

“Almost Radiohead”, as colleague Alexandre Vigneault put it so well in his review last May. A Light For Attracting Attention, from The Smile, brings us to familiar territory, for our greatest pleasure. But the presence of the excellent drummer Tom Skinner, who provides the rhythm within the Sons of Kemet, adds a perfectly appropriate polyrhythmic touch, especially on Thin Thing.

Paranormaliumfrom Voivod

A relentless metal force for nearly 40 years, Voivod continues to live up to its legendary status with Synchro Anarchy, superb album which marks the second golden age of the Quebec group. Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain’s guitars are as fierce as ever, but his progressive touch is more assertive. As for Denis “Snake” Bélanger, he doesn’t try to dwell on the glories of the past, putting the maturity of his tone of voice at the service of excellent new songs.

curious/furiousby WILLOW

Jada Pinkett and Will Smith’s daughter continues her punk conversion with , an almost flawless album that affirms the musician’s position at the head of this remarkable cohort of young Gen Z singer-songwriters who have recently embraced the language and energy of rock. We want more!