Introduced to our pages 2 years ago, dark punk rockers BLEAKNESS (members of AMANDA WOODWARD, EXHAUSTION, KARYSUN, CHAVIRÉ) formed out of a need to express feelings of unease that resulted from witnessing the frustration and desesperation spawned out of an oppresive system. In the beggining that created fast and tensed hardcore punk songs infused with melancolic melodies. The band has been busy lately and it is our peasure to announce that they have a new album to come out very soon! “Functionnally Extinct” is slated for a December 6th release on Destructure and Sabotage, and today we’re giving you the first listen of their new song called “The Closing Door”, along with a tour announcement below!
After a handfull of local shows Bleakness quickly embarqued for their first european tour. During the two following years, between releasing EPs and constantly playing shows and tours in France and abroad, the trio kept busy working on new songs, each new song giving more space for post punk influenced melodies to evolve.
Late 2018, relocating in Lyon, Bleakness solidified its line up with the arrival of a new drummer, and finalized the writing of their first full lenght. “Functionnally Extinct” is set to be released late 2019 on Sabotage records in Germany and Destructure records in France (vinyl) and Icy Cold records (CD).
The sound is a perfect combination of the sadness of early 80’s post-punk and the anger of nowadays French hardcore punk.
“The Closing Door” is the opening song of BLEAKNESS first full lenght “Functionnally Extinct”, the song shows a darker and moody side of the band evolution. The rage felt in the fast and straight foward hardcore of early recordings has changed to a bleaker and more sophisticated music.
The lyrics keep focusing on visions of the world around evolving and you may not be surprised to hear that they are not very optimistic just as the album title suggests.
“The Closing Door” refects to many political campaigns in the past decades / centuries that still have consequences today. After having used (and abused) people from outside (and their lands and wealth) to help building and strenghten countries, the closing door is the specific moment when men in power start turning round and say these people are not welcome anymore.
The consequences are sometimes even worse, the foreigners are abused once again when they’re being showed as responsibles of all societys’ ills. When people are in need and desperate they can easily believe such bullshit.
This is a very old story but saddly very topical as nowadays more and more countries go back and lock themselves up. Nations stay apathetic even when it is reported that dozens and hundreds of human beings are dying trying to escape starving and brutality of wars.
The song features a piano intro played by longtime friend Marc Euvrie, Nico’s comrade in KARYSUN and the man behind THE EYE OF TIME project. Functionally Exctinct has been recorded and mixed by Guillaume Doussaud in french normandy countryside at Swan Sound Studio and mastered by Daniel Husayn at North London Bomb Factory. It is set to be released early december.
08/11/19 – STUTTGART @ REVIER 5 w/ RAVAGE FIX, NAKAM
09/11/19 – NURNBERG @ DESI w/ FINISTERRE, FCKR
10/11/19 – HANNOVER @ CAFE GLOCKSEE w/ CEREMONY
11/11/19 – POTSDAM – UHLANDSTRASSE 24 w/ COLD LEATHER
12/11/19 – BERLIN – TRXXTER w/ COLD LEATHER
13/11/19 – BREMEN – SIELWALLHAUS w/
14/11/19 – HAMBURG – ROTE FLORA w/ TESTBUNKER
15/11/19 – MUNSTER – HEILE WELT12/12/19 – ANTWERPEN – MUSIC CITY w/ CHAIN CULT, BAIT
13/12/19 – KORTRIJK – THE PITS w/ CHAIN CULT, BAIT
14/12/19 – RENNES – MELODY MAKER w/ CHAIN CULT, COBRA JAUNE
15/12/19 – NANTES – LA LUNE FROIDE w/ CHAIN CULT
16/12/19 – BREST – CAFE DE LA PLAGE w/ CHAIN CULT
17/12/19 – BORDEAUX – L’ATHÉNÉE LIBERTAIRE w/ CHAIN CULT, SOLID LINES
18/12/19 – TOULOUSE – LES PAVILLONS SAUVAGES w/ CHAIN CULT, NIGHTWATCHERS
19/12/19 – MARSEILLE – LA SALLE GUEULE w/ CHAIN CULT
20/12/19 – SAINT ETIENNE – LA GUEULE NOIRE w/ CHAIN CULT, MARAUDEUR
21/12/19 – PARIS – ESPACE B w/ CHAIN CULT, YOUTH AVOIDERS, SHORT DAYS
