Curtain – Fire (2026)
The deep breath before the storm; emptiness and eerie silence before the intense wave of something explosive, overwhelming and all-consuming. In this case, we’re not talking about the breath before war, but the silence before Curtain. Gaining their popularity in the 2000s, the French trio released two albums and one EP to critical acclaim. Influenced by The Chameleons, The Cure and Joy Division, they were compared to post-punk artists, but with gothic overtones, giving Curtain a distinctive sound…. Then it hit. The silence. Now, we’re about to emerge from that indefinite hiatus in full force.
After celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album, No Flowers By Request, Emmanuel Burget (vocals and guitar), Francois Peronet (bass), and Celine Rolland (keyboard) came together after a 15-year break. In 2022, the band confirmed their return with notable gigs performing alongside Little Nemo, Christian Death, Corpus Delicti and Martin Dupont. Since then, they have released several well-received singles, including 2024’s ‘Unbelievable’ and 2025’s ‘Mother’. This year, they step into 2026 with the track, ‘Fire’, ahead of a much-anticipated album.
Recorded and produced with Franck Amendola and Teo Sarfati, ‘Fire’ is rather aptly named as an enigmatic sweep of electronic beats, pulsating bass, and slicing guitar. Listening to ‘Fire’ is like stepping into a dystopian world and led across a dark, eerie street with smouldering buildings, torched cars, and the threat of devastation lurking ahead. Interestingly, while there is a sense of synchronicity in the arrangement, brash distortion breaks the rhythm as guitar, bass and keyboards twirl in a distorted haze of confusion.
For me, the uncertainty and encroaching tumult are evident in the obscure melody, but it is the vocals that contribute to the gut-wrenching fear while acting as a guiding light amidst the impending chaos. Bold, rich and authoritative, Burget’s voice booms across the tune, telling us to “feel the fire”; an encouragement of a union sparked by an emboldened zeal.
In addition to the single, Curtain released an official music video for ‘Fire’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Curtain on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Hot Puma Records.
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