To discover: HOLLS

Hølls' "Ill": A Descent into Post-Metal’s Abyss That Demands Your Attention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfmmsXujkrU

Ever wondered what it sounds like when darkness gets a soundtrack? Meet Hølls, Besançon’s five-piece post-metal alchemists, whose debut album Ill—out now—is less a collection of songs and more a séance for the disenchanted. Led by the ferocious Sandra, whose vocals could strip paint off walls, this band doesn’t tiptoe. They stomp. Auto-labeled “post-metal,” their sound orbits the jagged edges of post-hardcore and ambient, but good luck boxing them in.

Let’s cut to the chase: Ill is a beast. Tracks like Endless Night and Fall Into Decay aren’t titles—they’re warnings. Crushing guitar loops drag you through seven relentless dirges, Sandra’s growl hovering like a storm cloud. Sure, there’s the occasional flicker of softness—a whispered reprieve in Upsetters for example—but don’t get cozy. This isn’t background music for brunch; it’s a soundtrack for staring into the void.

The album’s relentless pulse, electrifying in its live incarnation, translates to a studio experience that commands attention with the force of a gravitational pull. Its production trades glossy dynamism for a raw, immersive magnetism—a deliberate choice that mirrors the unflinching emotional terrain it maps. And yet… its grip tightens with each listen. Why? Because Ill doesn’t merely invite you into its shadows—it challenges you to confront them, transforming bleakness into a strangely addictive act of rebellion. The climax, Endless Night, traps you in a melodic riff spiral—a morbid earworm that’s equal parts beauty and despair.

Love it or loathe it, Hølls forces us to stare into the void they’ve carved. It’s not easy, but since when was art about comfort? For those brave enough, hit play—and keep the lights on.