The band Revanche from Geneva, Switzerland, has released their first LP on Primator Crew. It’s an Oi! project with French lyrics. Musically, I think it will appeal to fans of bands like The Templars, Bromure, Rixe, and other projects that draw their roots from previous decades.
Revanche take inspiration from the Oi! sound of the 1980s, the same raw, simple style embraced by bands like The Templars. Thundering drums, a strong rhythmic bass, and light guitar leads come together to form a solid battle roar. French fits this style perfectly—it just sounds right. Besides this classic influence, you can also hear a slight touch of glam and pub rock, especially in the rhythm of some tracks, such as Plus Rien. Bands like Claimed Choice handle these influences very well, but here the sound is a bit dirtier and more primitive than that of their French counterparts. Overall, Revanche’s sound is also a bit more aggressive—most of the tracks are faster, more energetic, and have a full guitar-driven sound thanks to the dual-guitar setup.
The record features eight original songs, four on each side of the vinyl. Lyrically, the tracks deal with venting frustration (Plein Gaz), fighting against adversity (Impliqué, Demain, Vives Dans Le Peurs), the band’s hometown and life in it (Rives, Plus Rien), revenge (Revanche), and teenage angst (Jeune Crétin). These are generally quite dark and depressive themes—probably not something you’d sneak into a graduation party playlist, but perfect for shouting along at a gig or blasting during a fast drive down the highway.
Personally, I enjoy the slightly slower songs the most—those with a strong emphasis on guitar leads and group vocals, like Impliqué or Demain.
What’s great is that the band plays energetically, briskly, and with a good amount of grit, yet without slipping into hardcore—they stay firmly on Oi! punk tracks. The more I listened to the record, the more I felt like placing Revanche on the shelf right next to The Templars; the musical influences are very similar.
A very pleasant surprise from a corner of Europe where I wouldn’t have expected a project like this to emerge right now.
TOP TRACKS: Impliqué, Demain, Plus Rien
