Today we explore a Grindcore band from Canada. Fuck the Facts has released their eighth studio album on the 20th of last November, entitled ‘Pleine Noirceur’. We have had the pleasure of chatting with Fuck the Facts’ vocalist, Melanie Mongeon, and asked her about the new album and plenty of other things. We wrote a review for the released album as well.
‘Pleine Noirceur’ is a 12-tracks album, full of growls and screams that go right into the soul. Here are three things we loved about ‘Pleine Noirceur’.
1. The wonderful small touches
Some good songs are under-appreciated because they are badly produced. And sometimes average songs seem great and bad songs seem average because of how good they’re produced. Production can have a great effect on the overall result of any work, and it had a major positive impact on ‘Pleine Noirceur’. I’m not talking about huge things, just small things that make the album more attractive; small pauses, sudden changes in pace, a certain flow with a sudden breakdown. These, plus the different way some songs were introduced and concluded, all make the album sound rich and variant. Examples can be heard in songs like Sans Lumiere, Everything I Love Is, Dropping Like Flies, and L’abadon.
2. Consistent quality
‘Pleine Noirceur’ has a wonderful consistency in quality. There are no time-filling tracks. There are songs that might be more enjoyable than others, but in general, every song has its unique elements, lyrics-wise, all of them are brilliantly written, and probably most of them can be good singles. It would probably be a good argument among the fans to pick a favourite song from the album. Next is the one we picked.
4. Favourite song: “Dropping Like Flies“
Dropping Like Flies is a song that ignores your nervous system and speaks directly to your soul. The speed and heaviness is so satisfying for a Metal-loving ear, with a great flow and wonderful breakdowns. Great song!
Ratings
The FemMetal Team has given the album the following rates:
Betty
7.0/10
Mirk
6.5/10
Rebecca
6.0/10
Total
6.5/10
Interview
And here’s the interview we had with Mel. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Hello Mel. How have you and the other members of Fuck the Facts been lately?
We’ve been good! Thanks for asking. We haven’t been all together in a long time due to Covid restrictions, but hopefully, we will be able to practice again soon.
We’re going to talk about your new album in a minute, but first, how would you introduce Fuck the Facts to our readers who haven’t heard your band yet?
We are a Canadian Band that has been quite active since 2001. The band was a solo project of Topon prior to 2001, but the live band version started in 2001. We toured heavily for many years. Our music is a blend of many influences, but mostly metal and grindcore.
You released your album, ‘Pleine Noirceur’ on the 20th of November. How are you feeling about the reception you got from people who listened to your new music so far?
It’s been awesome. We’ve been quiet for more than 4 years and I had forgotten what it’s like to release an album, from the work involved to the awesome support we get. I have to admit I was surprised by the level of support we got from folks around the globe. I also had some people writing to me directly to give me personal feedback which is so nice to hear.
If you had to describe the type of music people can expect to hear on ‘Pleine Noirceur’ without using genres or technical terms, how would you describe it?
The album has a flow and coherence that really comes together when you listen to it as one thing, rather than single tracks. It has intense, heavy moments, but also grooves and slower and darker tracks to give the listener a breath before getting back into heavier content.
To get to know you better, how about we play a little game, which is a tradition we have here. I’ll give you a scenario in an alternate universe and you have to use your imagination to react to it.
In a universe where you’re the ruler of a country, what would be an interesting law you’d make?
I would want the environmental issues to be the number 1 priority. Right away.
In a universe where humans are born with superpowers related to their personalities, what would your superpower be?
Ability to only sleep 2 hours and be rested after? That sounds like the most convenient superpower. But then again, maybe humans would be too productive!
In a universe where your WiFi password is a word formed by your favourite vocalist’s first name, your favourite album’s name, and a random fruit, what would be the password?
Michael Bakesale Grapes. But I’m cheating. I don’t have one specific favorite album or fruit!
In a universe where the currency is the person’s sense of humor, how rich would you be?
Moderately rich. If laughing at your own jokes paid, then maybe a little richer!
😂😂 Well that answer definitely made me laugh. In a universe where aliens with superior-tech have invaded Earth, and it was found that the only way to defeat them is songs with powerful growling, which song from ‘Pleine Noirceur’ would you lead the charge with?
Dropping like flies. This song has growling and a lot of energy. But I think to be more efficient, we would need every heavy song with growling to be played all at once, around the globe, plus growlers screaming. I think that should do the trick!
Thank you for playing Mel! You’ve been around in the Metal scene with Fuck the Facts for about two decades now. What remarkable things have changed from the time you began your music career, to the better or worse?
It’s gonna seem silly, but one aspect that I like to think back that really changed is technology. The technology was there but it wasn’t as advanced, affordable or as portable. When we started touring, we had printed directions at best and none of us had a cell phone or a laptop. You showed up at some point to the show, and you most likely had to stop at one or more garages along the way. We had to rely on whoever was good at reading a map in the band. Almost a decade later, I remember us getting our first GPS, it was so awesome. It just blew our minds. It even predicted the time we would get to the show!!! And now, you can text the promoter that you are late, avoid traffic along the route, call home without a payphone, or video message your loved ones. Things have changed so much since 2000!
Yeah, that had a huge impact! Ask Spotify. Do you remember the first time you played for a live audience? How did it feel?
I was excited I think. It was in my hometown, in 1999. It wasn’t with Fuck The Facts. I don’t remember the show that well, unfortunately.
Have you ever been treated in a sexist manner? How would you have sexism and what advice would you give to young people who deal with any kind of discrimination?
Speak up, don’t let it slide. It’s not ok and it’s not because you are a minority in a metal scene that you can’t speak up.
Thank you for the interview Mel, good luck for you and Fuck the Facts in all your future projects.
