The compilation LP by Fléau was released in 2025 through Contra Records. Side B features the band’s self-titled debut EP together with the track La Noble Cause, originally released on a various artists compilation. Side A is dedicated to new material, offering ten tracks including an intro. In essence, this is a compilation LP that combines the band’s early work with a substantial amount of fresh material.

We’ve already featured an interview with Fléau on our website, so if you’d like to learn more about the band, it’s well worth checking out. Musically, expect French-language Oi! with a dark atmosphere. While the influence of the French cold Oi! school is unmistakable, Fléau sound noticeably heavier than most bands associated with that subgenre. Rather than focusing on melancholy alone, they build their sound around brooding, atmospheric songs that often feel more indebted to aggressive guitar-driven music such as punk and even metal than to the more introspective side of cold Oi!. Yet their affiliation with bands like Syndrom 81 or Rancœur is completely obvious.

Cruel Fate, Brute Force, Into the Night, The End of Time, Eternal Glory, Suffering, and Punitive Expedition—just translating the song titles gives you a clear idea of the themes explored throughout the record. Hard times, darkness, struggle, and a strong warrior ethos form the backbone of Fléau’s lyrical identity. It’s an outstanding combination, elevated even further by the French language, which feels perfectly suited to this style of music. It cuts through the gloomy atmosphere with remarkable elegance, almost like the narrator’s voice guiding you through a classic noir film.

I’d say the debut EP is slightly more restrained, relying more on dynamic tempo changes and the commanding vocal performance, while the newer material pushes the band’s sound into heavier territory. The difference isn’t dramatic, though, because Fléau maintain a consistently high level of quality throughout. This is undoubtedly one of the standout cold Oi! releases of recent years, and I’m genuinely looking forward to hearing where the band goes next—they’re clearly on a very promising path.

TOP TRACKY: Destin Cruel, Gloire Éternelle, Force Brute