RFI Musique - - French heavy metal - Trust still going strong!

Trust still going strong!

13 à table mixes rock and DJ scratches

Paris

26/09/2008 -

At the age of 52, Bernie Bonvoisin is not only a veteran performing and recording artist, he is also an experienced interviewee. But this does not stop the French heavy metal singer from taking an outspoken stance on social issues and dissing "cowardly" politicians. Trust and their voluble lead singer are currently back in the spotlight with 13 à table, a hardhitting album that mixes heavy guitar riffs with DJ scratches.

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Trust - the only French heavy metal group to have made the slightest impact on the international music scene - has been a particularly stormy one to date, marked by constant rows, departures, break-ups and public make-ups. After a spectacular feud lasting well over a decade, Trust's two core members - vocalist Bernie Bonvoisin and guitarist Norbert Krief - finally called a temporary truce, offering one another the olive branch in an attempt to reform Trust for a special one-off gig in 2006.

The 2006 concert proved such a success that Trust ended up hitting the road together on a reunion tour and, much to their hardcore fans' delight, the group subsequently released a live album with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. (The album made scathing reference to the French election campaign, bearing the ironic title Campagne 2006: Soulagez-vous dans les urnes! Campaign 2006 - Relieve Yourselves in the Ballot Box!) Following their reunion tour, Trust put their old differences behind them and went back into the studio together to make the twelfth album of their career. They completed 13 à table in record time, wrongfooting both their fans and music critics by inviting a hip-hop DJ to scratch on their songs.

Sitting on the terrace of a Paris café, his eyes and identity shrouded behind a pair of Ray Bans, Bernie Bonvoisin appears happy to talk about Trust's new album, albeit in rather time-worn clichés. "The new album was something we really wanted - and really needed to do!", he declares, going on to insist that "We're not looking to get out there and tout for trade or anything!" "What's essential for Trust is that we should be open to all kinds of music and all kinds of cultures!" he quips, before informing us that he's "really into" the bling-blingest of U.S. hip-hop, "digging" Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.

A constant quest for perfection

On a first listen to 13 à table, even the most astute critic would be hard pushed to find any significant sign of change. "Nono" Krief is still there powering out his indefatigable blues-rock riffs while Bernie bellows out the lyrics. And then, somewhere far off in the distance, a flurry of DJ scratches timidly pick their way between the guitars. Bernie is quick to leap to the defence of his new scratching protégé, DJ Deck, however, insisting that "It hasn't been easy for him!" "Deck was a bit traumatised by fans' initial reactions [during the "reunion" tour]. He was a bit wary about really hoeing into the tracks and making his presence felt. But we were there to reassure him and in the end we got him to relax a bit. I think he's really found his place now. Besides, we're always looking for ways of improving things. We rehearse together a lot and certain tracks have evolved considerably since we recorded the album."

Trust have certainly pulled off an impressive musical feat on 13 à table, achieving a subtle shift in their sound without shaking their metal foundations. What's more, DJ Deck is highly effective in his supporting role, stepping in here and there to alter the musical mood with an unexpected sample of backing vocals on the brilliant Tout est à tuer, for instance. The veteran French metal band also take fans by surprise on La morsure, experimenting with hip-hop beats and an overtly rap style "flow" (although this is, of course, eventually subverted by Nono's heavy riffs).

Taking a stance

Bernie Bonvoisin is deliberately low-key when asked about the religious subtext of Trust's latest album title and the provocative album cover (depicting a machine gun poised above a bible). "I was pretty freaked out when a certain sector of the population started complaining that Christian principles were not written into the European Constitution," he says, "I think you've got to be very careful about issues like that. It's important to try and keep the peace. We all know what happens when you stir up hatred!"

Despite his efforts to remain laidback and non-confrontational, Bernie gets increasingly fired up as he speaks. "I think we all have to remain extremely vigilant," he declares, "You've got to take a position on things, even if it's only as a simple citizen of the world. I'm involved at things on a grass roots level, on the streets. I'm not interested in belonging to any political party. The important thing is that people actually form an opinion about the society they live in."

Biting into his cigarette and angrily ripping off the filter with his teeth, Bernie suddenly flares up at the idea of artists taking a stand. "We've never claimed we're going to get out there and change things, or even change people's minds," he snaps, "But I do think it's important for artists to take some kind of stance. Because if we don't that means we've got lousy morals and we're only interested in ourselves. I think artists who go round saying 'I don't have an opinion on this or that' should at least be honest enough to say they prefer not to commit themselves because they're scared they'll sell less CDs. Personally, I don't give a shit about selling less records if I shoot my mouth off! I'm aware that I live a pretty privileged lifestyle and I could quite easily stay in my bubble and ignore everything outside. But the truth is certain things bother me and I can't simply ignore them!"

Bernie swiftly moves on to rail against two of his current pet hates: Vladimir Putin and Nicolas Sarkozy. "We all knew politicians were born without the shame gene," he says, "but now they appear to have lost the courage gene too!" In fact, once started on his favourite theme, there appears to be no stopping Bernie. Despite being middle-aged these days, he has evidently lost none of his youthful spleen. Trust may or may not win new fans with 13 à table, but listening to Bernie rant to his heart's content, that issue seems to be secondary right now. What counts the most for Bernie Bonvoisin and his crew is being able to stand up and open their mouths come hell, high water - or a dramatic fall in record sales!