Video: Justice - Heavy Metal

Taking its inspiration from the world of American marching bands, the new video by Justice for their track Heavy Metal is a change from the ultra-violence of their last release Love SOS.

Heavy Metal originally featured on their 2016 Woman album, and a version appeared on this year's Woman Worldwide album that came out in August this year.

Interesting to see the band in an all-American context, as they're the only French representatives this year at the Grammy awards in February. They're in the 'best dance/electronic album' category, alongside Jon Hopkins, Sofi Tucker, SOPHIE and TOKiMONSTA.

I've always thought of Justice as being a rock band, albeit one that operates using a different medium. While their main appeal might be to fans of electronic music, those into more established sounds can find plenty to love in what Justice do. I can imagine Metallica fans getting into Justice, and not just on account of this song title.

France has always been good at producing acts that ignore the established musical genre conventions and create something new instead.

Hopefully Justice will be served at the Grammys, they certainly deserve the recognition. They've continued to create music that's cutting edge but instantly accessible, new but informed by the work of earlier artists.

Justice for all? Without a doubt.

Christine and the Queens: Nuit 17 à 52

A new video has emerged for the track Nuit 17 à 52 by Christine and the Queens.

The track comes from her new four-track EP that came out last week.

It's the singer's third EP, but her first for leading French independent label Because music.

Christine, known to her friends and family as Heloïse Letissier, has been active as an artist since 2010, combining her music with performance, video and design.

Christine and the Queens were one of the French bands to play the Great Escape event in Brighton last month, and at the Liverpool Sound City event. They were earlier tipped as one of the top French acts to watch by the NME.

They also features on the Les Inrocks magazine compilation Inrocks Lab (vol 1)

The track The Loving Cup from the EP is available as a free download via the Christine and the Queens Facebook page 

H-Burns: Opposite Ways

A video for the track Opposite Ways by H-Burns, from the album Off the map.

The album which was released in February on Vietnam/Because Music, was produced by the legendary Steve Albini. The track Six years came out as an EP in 2012.

Off the Map is H-Burns' fourth album, recorded at Albini's Electrical Audio studios in Chicago.

It follows the album We Go Way Back, and is another classy piece of US-style indie,  albeit one with a French origin.

Opposite Ways also features on a new four track EP that also includes out-takes from the album sessions and a demo version of Opposite Way