French post-hardcore/grunge trio Loons released debut album »Life Is«; out now via Howlin Banana / Head Records / Les Disques du Paradis!

Montpellier, France based post-hardcore/grunge trio Loons presents their debut album, »Life Is«, which was just released on November 28th, 2025 via Howlin Banana / Head Records / Les Disques du Paradis.

Stream / order »Life Is« at this location!

Tracklist:
01. Among The Mourners
02. Fight Scene
03. My Way
04. Solar
05. Now I Sigh
06. Stef
07. Caramel Duck
08. To Your Core
09. KATAG (971 People Down)
10. Spectre
11. No Bodies Glide

Courtesy of Clément Duboscq // Vous Connaissez ? PR:

“Where do they come from?”, “What do they have for breakfast?”, “What year is it again?”, these are just some of the questions that come to mind when confronted with Loons’ post-hardcore. One that got bathed into grunge and indie rock, defining the American music scene of the 90s. But the mindfuck is even greater when you find out that this trio hails from Montpellier, and that its members weren’t even born during the golden age of that movement. At 21, Elio Richardeau, Antoine Bay, and Axel Sirodeau embody the little miracle that French rock music wasn’t expecting. Produced with the masterful touch of Amaury Sauvé (Birds In Row, It It Anita, Plebeian Grandstand, among many others), »Life Is« shows them ready to shake things up and leave no stone unturned. This debut album already demonstrates considerable musical maturity, building on their 2022 EP »Cold Flames«, and confidently blending raw power with emotional expression. Champions, I tell you.

Photo credit: Bertrand Richardeau

Beyond their musical style and talent, it is Loons’ journey that leaves an undeniable impression of ensured succession. It all began in 2020 when the three boys, freshly in high school, formed a close friendship. The Covid era proved to be conducive to fostering a love for playing music together and developing a shared passion. Without even expecting to reach this stage, their first studio experience came sooner than expected, resulting in »Cold Flames«. An EP that caught everyone off guard, showcasing a determination fueled by the strong bond between the members. Their sound and intentions reveal a generational clash. One would easily mistake them for having emerged straight from 1994 Seattle, Washington, Sacramento, or New York. Yet, this noisy, raw, and gritty sound, with its distinctive vocals and lo-fi production, originated in southern France in the present day. Does this stylistic gap hindered them from finding their audience?

Not at all, as the band themselves explain:

“When we first started playing gigs, we only had an audience of older people who came to see us because our music reminded them of their youth. The turning point came a year or two ago, during a show where the audience was entirely made of young people. The atmosphere was incredible, and something really special happened. It was the first time our audience looked like us. That made us realize we could connect with everyone, perhaps also because people are tired of always listening to the same thing. This music speaks to our generation, which is maybe more open-minded and curious. Just look at how Deftones became popular again on TikTok recently. When we were in high school, not that long ago, we were practically the only ones listening to them. And we’d bet that if we went back there today, everyone would be a fan. We’re witnessing a new era with the rise of bands like Fontaines D.C., Turnstile, or even those playing at the Outbreak festival in England. Rock and hardcore are becoming cool again for young people our age.”

From the very first listen, »Life Is« widens the gap from its predecessor with its clear desire to explore new sonic territories. Loons subtly shifts away from their garage roots, embracing a more “pop” sound (though that’s a broad generalization). Ultimately, the timeless principle of “less is more” prevails. The song structures are streamlined, resulting in pure, catchy tracks that are guaranteed to stick in your memory. This is achieved through powerful melodies and strong vocal hooks, complemented by the signature power chords that Elio (vocals/guitar) and Antoine (vocals/bass) are fond of. But it’s the arpeggios that truly shine, along with the more varied drumming grooves from Axel behind the drum kit. Loons seamlessly blends catchy verses and choruses. And it’s safe to say that tracks like »Fight Scene«, »No Bodies Glide«, »My Way«, »KATAG (971 People Down)«, »Now I Sigh«, and »Stef« are among the highlights of what promises to be an instant classic.

Another advantage of this adopted simplicity, and a hallmark of a much more collaborative songwriting process than in the past, is that Loons naturally began to develop their vocal duo, and with great success. After briefly exploring this dynamic on »Cold Flames«, Antoine becomes an indispensable partner for Elio, with both sharing the desire to blend their voices into a single, unified lead. Once again, the melodic approach has matured, without neglecting to allow their raw energy to burst forth from time to time, in the form of distorted, intense vocals. This duality is what gives the album its essence, as opposing extremes come together. Efficiency vs softness. Introspection vs heaviness. And if there’s one person who has worked tirelessly to make this music alive, it’s undoubtedly Amaury Sauvé. Your favorite sound engineer’s favorite sound engineer, known for his demanding standards and unwavering dedication. Do you know “The Sauvé Method”?

The guys share their experience:

“Amaury really pushed our limits, to see how far we could take our music. When something wasn’t right, he told us clearly, and it’s truly amazing to work with a producer like him. Every decision during the creation of this album was made together, as a team of four. He made us understand that our instruments were an extension of ourselves. He provided that invaluable outside perspective. He really made us focus on arrangements, sound, and nuances, whereas we had always tended to just play as loud as possible. Similarly, his pre-production process is incredibly valuable. Recording with Amaury is never just a case of “come in, record, and leave”. He’s fully invested, from the very first stage to mastering. It starts with a day of playing your entire album live, then listening to those recordings over the next two days. He had us fill out worksheets to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each song, so we could identify what needed to be worked on during the months leading up to recording. All Amaury wants is for you to be fully prepared for those two intense weeks of hard work. And thanks to him, our mental state was optimal throughout the entire process.”

Loons sings about human relationships – family and friendships, youthful romances, boredom, and death. In that sense »Life Is« is, ultimately, a bit like life itselves. It captures its moments of intensity, joy, and vulnerability. It’s an album title with a deliberately open meaning, allowing for a certain ambiguity that invites personal reflection. And this is precisely what repeated listening to this kind of album encourages, as it unfolds its entire spectrum of emotions. Sharing his own perspective, Elio elaborates further on the underlying theme of these 11 songs: »Life Is« symbolizes the acceptance of growing up, accepting that things happen the way they do. But it’s not a pessimistic view; quite the contrary. Many of the songs may sound pessimistic, but they actually convey a lot of positivity. They truly encourage moving forward.

However, we wanted the title to be as open to interpretation as possible, so that each listener can make it their own. Why add a word after “Is” when it seems so obvious? We will all have a different meaning in our hearts. Loons’ youthful energy would not be complete without sincerity and the pure joy of playing. Just watching the trio on stage is proof of their rejection of any kind of stagnation, driven by a greater ease of expression through music than through words. Because »Life Is« is, without a doubt, an album that is meant to be experienced live in concert.

»Life Is« is now available on CD and vinyl at Les Disques du Paradis, on your favorite streaming platform, as well as on Head Records’ Bandcamp page.

Recorded and mixed by Amaury Sauvé at The Apiary Studio (Laval).
Mastered by Alexis Bardinet at Globe Audio Studio (Bordeaux).
Artwork by Elio Richardeau and Tanguy Agobian.
Photos by Bertrand Richardeau.

Line-up:
Elio Richardeau – Vocals/Guitar
Antoine Bay – Vocals/Bass
Axel Sirodeau – Drums

FFO: Quicksand, Deftones, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jawbox, Failure, Fugazi, Hum, At The Drive In

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well