French punk-rock outfit NIGHTWATCHERS release the singe “Their Turn Trying to Rule the World”. A bass-driven, melodic punk track with a strong political message. The single, much like the other tracks on soon to be released album, is written to raise awareness about institutional racism in modern-day France dating back from the country’s colonial era.
“Their Turn Trying to Rule the World” addresses the topic by highlighting a new, controversial bill meant to protect the country against the dangers of what the French government deems “Islamist separatism”.
Julien, vocalist and guitars of the band, comments: “Their Turn Trying to Rule the World” tackles the Senate report that inspired the brand new French law against “Islamist separatism”. The existence of a separatist political project is presented as a fact, without any scientific proof.”
“Their Turn Trying to Rule the World” is out now on all streaming platforms. The single is the third and final leading up to Nightwatchers politically thematic, sophomore album ”Common Crusades”, to be released on Lövely Records October 8.
Nightwatchers is a punk band from Toulouse, France. Formed in January 2016 by Freddy, Kevin, Julien and David, the four piece offers a melodic, punchy and gloomy sound, powered by political subversiveness and social criticism.
Nightwatchers second album ”Common Crusades” was written and recorded during the Covid-19 crisis. Released in autumn 2021 on Lövely Records, the album is a musical and lyrical continuity of their 2019 debut ”La paix ou le sable”. A bit colder and more post punk oriented than before, the album tackles the French colonization and the still visible imprints of these violent actions in modern day France. The lyrics of “Common Crusades” are based on speeches or writings of personalities who played a role in the colonization process, as well as those who currently play a role in the perpetuation of colonial logic within the French society.
Nightwatchers‘ first album “La paix ou le sable” was released in 2019 on Lövely Records. All the lyrics deal with the abuses and acts of violence perpetrated by the French State within three of its Colonial Empires and territories: Indochina (1887-1954), Algeria (1830-1962), and Cameroon (1916-1960). These lyrics are adaptations of excerpts taken from two books: “Les crimes de l’armée française : Algérie 1954-1962” by Pierre Vidal-Naquet (2001), and “La guerre du Cameroun : l’invention de la Françafrique, 1948-1971,” by Thomas Deltombe, Manuel Domergue and Jacob Tatsitsa (2016). The writing is based on facts and academic works.
The lyrics were written with the objective of raising awareness about the reality of the occupation and colonial violence that were systematically perpetrated throughout all French colonial territories during several centuries, and this, officially, until 1962. Colonization was the experimental field of power systems that would end up by profoundly transforming European modern societies.
The band toured in mainland Europe in may 2019 to support their debut album. They also played a couple of shows in France and Basque Country before flying to Sweden and Norway for 10 Halloween shows in the fall of October 2019. Between 2016 and 2018, Nightwatchers toured Europe twice – mostly in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria and Czech Republic; trying to spread their music and their aestetic vision of punk rock beyond the borders.
Nightwatchers are: Freddy Coste – Drums, Kevin Bodei – Guitars, Vocals, Julien Virgos – Guitars, Vocals, David Mareau – Bass, Vocals
