If Deftones, Nothing and Sunny Day Real Estate had a child in a three way relationship, it would be Mascara. Paris-based and formed in 2019, the band channels modern existential tension into a sound that is equal parts crushing and cathartic. Their debut album ‘Going Postal’ fuses alternative-metal, shoegaze, grunge, and post-hardcore/rock into dense, emotionally charged soundscapes that shift effortlessly between collapse and liberation.
From the haunting, groove-driven opener « Nova Ardor » to the ethereal calm of « Marrow » and the pounding riffs of « Nerium », Mascara navigates contrasts with precision, somewhere along bands such as Hum or Superheaven. Synths and sampled voices weave through the guitars and rhythm section, creating a layered listening experience that feels both personal and universal – frustration, exhaustion, and fleeting hope all collide.
« Ce que l’on ressent en vivant dans un monde qui s’effondre, un monde qui vous pousse sans cesse à bout tout en faisant semblant que tout va bien. C’est une plongée dans l’aliénation moderne, dans ce désespoir silencieux qui se cache sous le brouhaha du quotidien »
While heavy shoegaze remains largely underrepresented in France, Mascara stakes a claim alongside international heavyweights, blending accessible melodies with punishing riffs. Their capacity to reimagine their influences while carving a distinct sonic identity makes ‘Going Postal’ – released via the American label Fever Ltd. (Fly Over States…) – a record that demands attention, whether you’re a diehard alt-metal fan or a newcomer to the scene.
