Skirting somewhere between doom, Deftones and shoegaze is France’s Hangman’s Chair. The band scored an unsung gem with 2018’s Banlieue triste, a propulsive, near-hypnotic affair that they’ve wisely doubled-down on for A Loner, their sixth full-length and first for Nuclear Blast, a move that speaks to their promise.
Vocalist/guitarist Cédric Toufouti has one of those easy-on-the-ears clean vocal deliveries. He’s a bit like Evergrey’s Tom Englund. Like Englund, Toutfouti will not crash through the gates of a song but has enough soul to pull some weight when it comes time for the choruses. This approach is beneficial for album opener “An Ode to Breakdown” and the softer, spatial “Storm Resounds.” And while Toufouti occasionally gets stuck in the mire with the same vocal key, his complementary nature fits Hangman’s Chair well since this is how the entire band operates.
Case in point, the world-beating, totally excellent lead single, “Cold & Distant.” Drawing from the same formula heard on Banlieue triste, “Cold & Distant” swells with a simple snare beat that has some reverb applied and driving, down-tuned guitars. It’s an exercise in heaviness and tension that personifies Hangman’s Chair. And, really, they’re quite inclined to work this style of riffing and drum playing over and through — “Supreme” and “Second Wind” included.
Sure, you could loop Hangman’s Chair in with Deftones. However, Deftones are usually more inclined to go out on a limb; Hangman’s Chair plays it close to the vest and appears comfortable to work the margins for a sound they can call their own. Worth the price of admission for “Cold & Distant” and the various shades and shapes that few are willing to throw around.