Parisian experimental hardcore band THE PRESTIGE have unfurled their devastating exploration of death, loss, grief and the fragility of life with an expansive new track ‘Cri de Coeur’. The composition closes out their forthcoming album ‘Amer’ with palpable poignancy. “‘Cri de Coeur’ is a deeply personal song for me,” says vocalist and guitarist Alex Diaz. “It was written after the death of my grandfather, which was the first close loss I experienced. He was the person who taught me to play guitar, and losing him made me reflect on the fragility of life. The emotional weight of losing someone who played such a pivotal role in your life can be overwhelming. For me, my grandfather wasn’t just a family member, but a mentor who shaped my musical journey. I remember him playing his guitar under the porch in Spain during the summer.
Through ‘Cri de Coeur,’ I wanted to explore the complex emotions that may flood your mind when faced with the reality and immediacy of death. It’s about reflecting on what you’ve lived, what you might still want to say, and the inevitable truth that nothing in life is permanent. The song became a meditation on the things we leave behind and the weight of mortality, not just from losing my grandfather, but from facing the universality of that experience.”
The song culminates with a piano and voice part, a raw, a cappella moment that felt essential to Diaz and his bandmates. “It’s the most vulnerable section of the album. We recorded it in one single take, to keep the rawness and sincerity of the moment.”
This release follows the intensity of recent track releases ‘Enfants Terribles’, which features a chorus of friends from bands like Birds In Row, As We Draw, Calvaiire, and Puzzle chiming in on the chorus, and the powerful ‘Voir Dire’, which further exemplifies the band’s masterful manipulation of heavy and atmospheric musical elements.
‘Amer’ will be out 06 June via French label Banshies and was produced by Amaury Sauvé. After a prolonged hiatus, The Prestige’s sound reemerges like a ghost that has never left us, more unique than ever. On ‘Amer’, you can expect dark riffs that grip you by the throat, intertwined with moments of melodic softness that create enchanting soundscapes. The band will be continuing their return with vigour and another new album in November 2025 so stay tuned.
With years of concerts and tours across Europe and America alongside legends like Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die, Stray from the Path, Birds in Row, Black Peaks, and Joliette under their collective belt, The Prestige will be back on the road decimating stages across the globe very soon.
