Album Review: Gokkun by Truie – A Brutal Sonic Assault from France
If you’re into the kind of music that punches you in the gut and then laughs maniacally while doing it, Gokkun by Truie is your jam. Released in 2019 under their own steam (Not On Label), this French death/black metal/grindcore hybrid doesn’t hold back—it’s raw, relentless, and unapologetically grotesque. With Kaan Turkamar handling bass and vocals, Eric Dorleans on guitar and drum programming, and Notos Productions tying everything together with mixing, mastering, and production duties, the album feels like a chaotic yet calculated mess. And yeah, those track titles? They’re as wild as the music itself.
Let’s dive into two standout tracks that’ll stick with you long after the last note fades—or maybe just haunt your nightmares.
First up, “8bits Dans Ton Cul.” The title alone tells you what you’re in for: an unholy fusion of retro video game vibes and brutal grindcore madness. It opens with chiptune-like bleeps and bloops before slamming into face-melting riffs and blast beats so fast they might give you whiplash. Kaan’s guttural growls are absolutely feral here, blending perfectly with the absurdity of the concept. You can almost picture some pixelated demon chasing you through a glitchy hellscape. What makes this track unforgettable isn’t just its humor—it’s how seamlessly it marries aggression with weirdness. It’s like playing Mario Kart but instead of bananas, there’s barbed wire everywhere.
Then there’s “Partouze Sur Le Nil,” which takes things to another level of depravity. This one’s got a slower, sludgier vibe compared to the rest of the album, almost like wading through tar while being screamed at by ancient Egyptian demons. The riffs are heavy as hell, dragging you down into the depths of despair, while the vocals spit venomous lyrics that sound vaguely poetic if you squint hard enough. There’s something oddly cinematic about this track—it paints a vivid picture of chaos and excess, like Hieronymus Bosch decided to make a soundtrack for his weirdest painting. By the time it ends, you’ll feel both exhausted and exhilarated.
The rest of Gokkun follows suit, delivering a mix of over-the-top brutality and dark humor that keeps you hooked. Tracks like “Crachoir A Sperme” and “Fromage De Bite” keep the energy high, though nothing quite hits the same way as the two mentioned above. Sure, the production has that DIY grittiness, but honestly? That works in its favor. It adds authenticity to the whole experience, like you’re listening to a band who couldn’t care less about fitting into anyone’s expectations.
What really stands out about Gokkun is its refusal to take itself too seriously. Yeah, it’s extreme, but it never forgets to have fun along the way. Whether it’s the absurd song titles or the sheer audacity of blending genres like black metal and chiptune, Truie knows exactly what they’re doing—and they do it well.
In the end, Gokkun isn’t just an album; it’s a statement. It’s proof that even in 2019, when everyone thought metal had seen it all, a band could still come out of nowhere and throw a curveball like this. So grab your headphones (and maybe a stiff drink) and prepare yourself for a ride that’s equal parts hilarious, horrifying, and headbang-worthy. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you when your neighbors start complaining.
Oh, and hey—if you ever meet someone who claims they’ve heard every type of metal, play them this. Watch their face. Priceless.
