It's 2 PM when I enter De Roma in Borgerhout, the Antwerp area that has managed to be one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.
This is the place where local legends Toute Rancune are preparing to unleash their comeback-album Dew onto the world.
I'm immediately flabbergasted by the gorgeous architecture this venue offers. Apparently this used to be an old movie theatre and the Art Deco archecture is absolutely stunning.
One would almost forget the reason why I'm here so early. I've been invited by the band to listen to the new album in advance.

The band is running a tight ship today. The opening act for tonight is still announced as a special guest and there is no hint in sight as to who that might be.

I meet Christophe Deckers in a small room backstage, where I am given a headphone to listen to the new album under his kind, yet strict, supervision.

Is there anything I should know before I dive into this?
CD Besides keeping an open mind and enjoying the music? Not so much.

When announcing the album, TR also called out for distributors for an International release. How did those negotiations go?
CD (laughs) You're assuming there has been actual negotiations. Sadly enough, No one seemed interested in a bunch of old dogs like us. A lot has changed in the musical landscape and it seems that the music we used to represent doesn't feel relevant to a lot of people running things.

Are you serious? I mean, this is Toute Rancune we're talking about.
CD Yeah well, it is what it is. It's all prefabricated Pop-music and bad Hip Hop these days. I have to be honest, we feel more like outsiders today than we ever did before. I'm just glad we've managed to play for a full house tonight. That means a lot. Not everyone has forgotten about us.

So, What's going to happen after tonight?
CD We've managed to book some clubs for a small European tour for now. I suppose people are waiting to see what's going to happen tonight.
We've already decided to keep things DIY for now. We've opened up a webshop so Dew the album will be available for people after tonight.

This is where I'm offered to push play and hear what TR stands for today.

Toute Rancune - Dew



Toute Rancune has never been known to take the easy way and has build a career by fighting the tide. Today, after a 22 year-hiatus, things haven't changed. This is an album that no one expected and no one seems to be waiting for.
How wrong the world could be. This album is amazing!!!
The biggest surprise here is that for the first time, TR isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. TR reveals itself for what they have always been, a Post Rock-band and all the tropes of said genre are present. The album is almost entirely instrumental and what few vocals there are come across more like chanting than actual vocals. The emphasis is more on texture than melody and the album reveals itself as a masterclass of building up and releasing tension.
Nonetheless, this is an extremely well crafted wheel with a design uniquely its' own.

Highlights include the opener War Of Bells (The actual first track Sets The Sun is nearly a prelude before things actually get started) building up it's tension for an immersive (that is the keyword for this album 'immersive') 6,5 minutes, building for a climax that never seems to come, and when the track seems to fade out into a peaceful end, it suddenly explodes into a whirlwind of guitars and pounding drums for another full minute, leaving the listener exhausted at the end. That is only the beginning.

Ask For Your Offering seems to follow the same path. Again, the guitars create an intricate tapestry of sound while Christophe Deckers provides an underlying depth with his baritone guitar. Instead a climax, the tension is suddenly dropped to make way for an angelic a capella outro, one of the few moments where the human voice is included.

Heaven's Blessing is the centerpiece, a mastodont of over 20 minutes, defined by some beautiful elbows. This is where the benefit of that baritone guitar comes to full fruition. CD almost makes his instrument sound like a cello from hell. It's amazing how this track doesn't seem to get boring, considering there are no drums here and how long it actually is.

The following track Aalmoezenier almost seems like a letdown after this, since it feels more like a copy of what has come before. I could be mistaken, bit that could be intentional.
This album seems like it is set up to mimic a journey to the centre of a black hole and back again. After a composition that seems to make time stand still, time is now put in reverse.

Hi-Rise seems to confirm this theory. All the elements of War Of Bells are present, but they all appear in the opposite order. This starts as a sonic explosion only to implode onto itself again in slow motion.

A Final State repeats the same theme of Sets The Sun serving as a perfect bookend.

I don't know if Dew is going to open up the world to a new chapter for TR. It really isn't an album representative of it's time. It isn't an album from the past either, this is an entirely unique beast of its own. It isn't aggressive, even though it can get extremely loud at times. It just shows that TR is still who they have always been, an entity of its own that treats it's listeners on its own merits.
Dew is may not fit into anything a tone else is doing today, but I believe that makes it all the more necessary that people hear this.

87/100

1. Sets The Sun - 3'49"
2. War Of Bells' - 8'56"
3. Ask For Your Offering - 11'07"
4. Heaven's Blessing - 20'16"
5. Aalmoezenier - 9'41"
6. Hi-Rise - 7'33"
7. A Final State - 4'22"

TRT: 65'44"

All music performed by
Mario Abraham: guitar & vox
Christophe Deckers: guitar & vox
Koen Specht: guitar
Marcel Duplantier: keys & synths
Bavo Maximus: drums & percussion

All music written & recorded @ various locations by Mario Abraham & Christophe Deckers

Photography & Design by Ken Copy

©2026 - an Art Department release

Edited by user 15 February 2026 04:18:35(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

When the lights dim, with a 45 minutes delay due to 'unforeseen circumstances,' at 22:15, the room erupts in a wave of excitement. Clearly, everyone attending this gorgeous venue has high expectations for what is about to happen.

Toute Rancune enters the stage in darkness, for the first I'm in 22 years. Then, the eery sound of an elbow guitar turns everyone silent. I immediately recognise the opening melody of Sets The Sun and wonder what it must feel like for everyone else here, hearing this haunting composition for the first time.
How that tender melody turns into something more sinister when that baritone joins in with threatening weight and the band starts building up tension, only to explode into that pulsating groove that opens War Of Bells.

[url=]fltr: Christophe Deckers, Koen Specht & Mario Abraham[/url]

Man what an amazing show this is becoming. With Dew, their new album, Toute Rancune has created this brooding type of Ambient Rock with repetitive grooves that lures its listeners into a trance. Imagine that in a sold out room at full volume and it's no surprise that by the time the band moves into Heaven's Blessing, which is basically 20 minutes of pure ambience, TR has everyone taking it in like sweet honey.

And what an amazing chemistry this band has. It's obvious that the emphasis is put on Christophe Deckers and Mario Abraham, while everyone else kinda stands in the back.
Still, even when placed in a corner all the way back on the stage, it's impossible not to notice a drummer like Bavo Maximus. This can't be easy music to drum to, but the man is clearly having the time of his life.

Christophe Deckers is clearly enjoying himself too. Even though not a word is spoken, the man keeps firing up his band as a maniacal conductor. Mario Abraham couldn't be any more different. Completely lost in his playing, this is one of the most introverted performances I've ever seen.

After the band finishes with A Final State, coming full circle and ending the show as if it was a full movie score. The entire band lines up, bowing for a baffled crowd, apparently not entirely realising things are over.
What we all do realise is this, we all just experienced something special.

Edited by user 09 March 2026 21:16:39(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified