Daïtro - Y

It would have been easy to miss Daïtro's third album. The French screamo scene is not really the hypest thing in music and this kind of bands usually split up after a few years. Yet, the five-piece from Lyon, France is releasing their new LP, 'Y', five years after what is surely tagged as a "true screamo masterpiece" on Last.fm, their sophomore record 'Laisser vivre les squelettes'.

What strikes the most when listening to this album is the addition of clear vocals in the band's passionate hardcore sound. If Daïtro are famous for their visceral screaming parts and their brutal live performances, 'Y' shows a softer side of the French formation. There's more singing, spoken-word parts, and less guitar chaos or airy instrumental interludes. The whole record is quite moody ('Part VI') and more rock and heavy ('Part VII'), while proposing inevitable and memorable screaming moments, especially on its second half ('Part X'). Some of those changes can be real turnoffs at first, as the very melodic vocals on the intro of 'Part III'. But Daïtro's assets are still here: beautiful over-driven guitar tones, alternate tempos and, last but not least, Aurélien's lyrics, which are still some of the best you will find within the screamo scene, avoiding every cliche you'd expect him to fall into.

France may be the least rock nation ever (tied with Tajikistan), but you can't say I am being chauvinist when affirming that this country has brought and still brings us some of the best screamo bands in the world. Daft Punk, Air or Justice may be the the pride of thousands of French hipsters, Daïtro still remains my country at its finest.

4/5

Recommanded if you like:
Raein, Amanda Woodward, Suis La Lune
Check also:
Gantz, 12XU, Sed Non Satiata

www.daitro.com
(Purepainsugar, 2009)