“If you like Metallica for their noise, if the sick-f*ck appeal of Butthole Surfers turns you on, if you’re the sort that shivers with pleasure at Nick Cave’s neurotic growl, and if you demand more from all of these, for you the choice is clear… La Muerte.”
MELODY MAKER, 1986
“Conjuring extreme, horrifying images of death, addiction, the road and urban violence glued to putrid rock ‘n’ roll and manic – depressive blues – rock , La Muerte released a string of cult albums and EPs through the 80s and early 90s, which heavily resonated with those abandoned by love or devoid of hope. Even the devil’s rejects found refuge in La Muerte‘s growling, howling, stop/start frenzy, and feedback shivers of guitar burning through the dark cracks of life.”
ROADBURN, 2016
PRECURSORS AND INVENTORS. HATED.
DESPISED BUT SOMETIMES, PRAISED…
Founded in Brussels in 1983, La Muerte’s mythical reign over the Belgian Underground halted in 1994. Yet across those years and in the archives/subversive litanies of revered cult heroes, comparisons, wherever La Muerte were concerned, would fluctuate riotously. Almost as wildly in fact as the music they produced; from i-D to Sounds, Melody Maker to NME, La Muerte became best-known for peddling alternative metal and discordant noise, like an inebriated midnight melee between Motörhead, Velvet Underground, The Birthday Party, and Butthole Surfers.
With the exception of the odd release here and there, for the best part of two decades; the band, their history and their legacy lay dormant. But in March 2015, La Muerte made a surprising and hugely successful return with a sold-out show at one of Brussels most historic concert halls, the Ancienne Belgique. Billed as the missing link between Salvador Dali and The Stooges, the band re-emerged with founding members Marc du Marais and Dee-J and were joined onstage by a razor-sharp intake of new blood in Michel Kirby (Arkangel, Wolvennest, Length of Time), Christian Z. (Length of Time) and Tino de Martino (Channel Zero).
Their first show in over twenty years kickstarted a run of appearances and a surge in invitations to prestigious events across Belgium and beyond, and the band appeared at the likes of Roadburn Festival, Helldorado, Impetus Festival, Dour Festival, Graspop Metal Meeting, Lokerse Feesten, BSF and Desertfest in Antwerp.
At the Les Nuits du Botanique in 2016, La Muerte even curated their own headlining night and appeared as special guests beside Iggy Pop’s band at the screening of Gutterdammerung, in a second sold-out show at the Ancienne Belgique.
The Popes of the Belgian Underground were very much reborn anew.
Since their return, La Muerte has issued no less than four releases; EViL, a 2015 live album recorded at their comeback show, two 12” EPs, and most recently, a limited edition, fan-only 7” single. With the continued support of Belgian label Mottow Soundz, the band’s 2016’s Record Store Day Exclusive, Murder Machine EP, was the first to bear fruits from the studio with the new, revamped line-up. While 2017’s Headhunter EP, witnessed a reunion with faithful friends and Front 242 members, Richard 23 and Patrick Codneys.
Following a short sabbatical to work on new material and numerous side projects, this December will see the official worldwide release of La Muerte’s self-titled album. Where previous releases were restricted by time pressures, the band spent as much of it as possible in the studio, recording approximately twenty-five songs before eventually culling the set down to a measured and maniacal ten. Mastered by Alan Douches (Motorhead, Mastodon) and both mixed and enriched by the contribution of black metal specialist, Déhà, the album captures La Muerte’s sonic identity and searing live experience. Raw, heavy, authentic, and aggressive, without compromise La Muerte is aural proof that Belgium’s most sulfurous band is more than just a one-night stand.