For the past decade, Paris' LUGOSi have carved out a place in the French underground as one of its most vital heavy bands. Their sound pulls from post-hardcore, screamo, noise rock, punk, and mathcore, but what sets them apart is the raw emotion in their songs and the intensity of their live shows. LUGOSi have never been interested in repeating the old formulas that still linger in heavy music.
Their second album, The Scars, arrives this September. It marks a clear step forward for LUGOSi, both musically and in scope, while staying rooted in the vulnerability and inclusivity that have shaped them since day one.
The LP's first single, "Matches," was recently released via a music video:
LUGOSi's story starts in a Paris bar, where a weekly music quiz brought the founding members together."A friend used to host musical quizzes every Monday night in a Parisian bar, and that's how Fabien, Pieriv, and I came to know each other in the early 2010s," guitarist AdrianBy 2015, Verdier and guitarist Fabien Claes were writing together, pushing into heavier direction. "It was mostly sludgy metal with very cinematic, Mastodon-inspired riffs," bassist Arthur Bercovitz recalls.
Bercovitz and drummer Lucas Joly had already played together in another band, and Claes had worked with Joly before. Bringing Joly in made sense. Soon after, the band asked vocalist Pieriv Ruys to audition. "I did, and they never fired me, so I guess I was pretty decent," he jokes.
LUGOSi's sound has never fit neatly into a single category. Post-hardcore might be the simplest label, but their music pulls from all sides of aggressive music. "If I really had to, I'd probably define what we do as noisy post-hardcore with raw emotions," says Ruys.
Refused, Converge, The Armed, and Birds In Row are all touchstones for LUGOSi, but what matters most is the shared sense of purpose, not just the genre. "Intensity, honesty, and a taste for chaos," Ruys says.
Bercovitz sees Lugosi as more than just a sound or a style. "We love the aggression of the sound but not the menace or domination that can go with it," he explains. "We want to be cathartic and honest, to encourage people to get it all out, but not by beating each other senseless. It's about respecting everyone's boundaries and finding your place in the pit."
That philosophy remains central to The Scars, an album shaped heavily by themes of grief, separation, and survival. Recorded in Paris with engineers Youri Benaïs and Valère Brisard, the LP represents a new chapter for LUGOSi. "The Scars is a step up," says Joly. "We allowed ourselves to bring out a more melodic side of our music while also exploring other instruments."
Those additions include a saxophone contribution from Patrick Shiroishi of The Armed on "The Fire" and brass arrangements on the closing track "Everything Ends." Bercovitz appreciates the freedom the band had in the studio to spread their wings. "We were really lucky to have access to a great studio in Paris where we could spend quite some time. It was nice not to rush things and add keyboards and shakers to every song."
Thematically, however, the record remains deeply personal. "I'd say the main theme of the album is separation," Bercovitz explains. "Through death or breakups or simply life going on, and how all of this makes you who you are. Every scar leaves you something, good or bad, but hopefully something you can build on."
Ruys approaches the subject from an even more direct angle:
"Most of the lyrics on this album are about grief," says the LUGOSi vocalist. "In the course of about four years, I've experienced loss in many forms: deaths I didn't care about, deaths that shattered me, breakups I surprisingly handled very well, and others I'm probably still recovering from."
The rest of the band has endured similar experiences, creating a shared emotional foundation for the record. "We've been mourning, but we're still there."
That resilience mirrors the community LUGOSi have found in their hometown, where the underground scene continues to thrive thanks to independent promoters, venues, and organizers who prioritize inclusivity and creativity. "Paris' area has an incredible underground culture that keeps growing every year," says Verdier.
Among the bands they recommend are KARABA FC, PARLOR, L'IDYLLE, SPIRULINE, SPARE SKIN, RIZA VERTOV, CHIENNES, MSS FRNCE, and PARATONNERRE. Ruys also highlights Salut Les Zikettes, an organization that supports women and LGBTQIA+ musicians, as well as the feminist label Mascara Rocks.
With The Scars set for release in September, LUGOSi are preparing for an extensive run of shows across France. Beyond the music itself, the band's message remains consistent.
Verdier closes with a pointed critique of Spotify's business practices and its growing investment in AI, encouraging listeners to support artists through more ethical platforms.
Ruys offers a different challenge.
"Cut it with violent behaviours in the pit," the singer says. "We get it, you're muscular and strong and sweaty and real tough guys. Great. Now go fight fascists, not your kin."
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