By Carlos Ramirez |
|

5.28.2026

When No Echo last checked in with Corruption Pact in 2023, the Paris hardcore band were still building momentum through a nasty blend of metallic hardcore, grind, and death metal influence. Since then, the group have toured steadily throughout France, Belgium, and Germany while continuing to refine a sound rooted equally in Swedish death metal riffing, chaotic blast-driven aggression, and crushing hardcore groove.

Now preparing to release their upcoming LP, Unanswered Cries, through Born Dead Collective, Corruption Pact seem noticeably more focused than before. Recorded at France’s Disvlar Studio and mixed/mastered by Pest Control’s Ben Jones, the album also reflects the band’s deeper connection to the current Paris hardcore scene while pushing their songwriting into heavier and more dynamic territory.

I spoke with vocalist Quentin to discuss Corruption Pact’s evolution, newer European hardcore bands worth checking out, upcoming touring plans, and why Paris Hardcore continues to thrive.

Catch us up — what’s been going on with the band since we last featured you on No Echo?

We released a three-song EP on Deathfarm Records in 2024 and have had the opportunity to play many cool shows across France, Belgium, and Germany since then. We met many nice people and visited beautiful cities. Thank you, hardcore.

Looking back, what’s changed the most about the band since those early days?

I learned how not to crack my fucking voice on the first night of a tour.

Also, our former bass player became a father, so we had a little lineup change last year. Congrats, Tom.

I Stole And Then I Lied by Corruption Pact

The only song from the album you’ve released, “I Stole and Then I Lied,” feels like a step forward — what were you trying to push or refine this time? Also, what can you share about the album?

I think we did better in the writing process. We tried our best to mix classic Swedish-style death metal riffs with heavy mosh parts and retard false grind blast parts. Even though we all love Dying Fetus and Dehumanized in the band, we’re not trying to play the NYDM-inspired kind of hardcore that blew up in the past few years.

Our songs have those grind-ish parts and talk only about corrupt politicians, so the best option for recording our LP was to work with Stephen Tanker at Disvlar Studio, the headquarters of grindcore in France (Blockheads, Whoresnation, LMDA, etc.).

Once we were done, we sent the songs to Ben Jones from Pest Control, who handled the mixing and mastering exactly as we expected. I would 100% recommend working with him.

Last but not least, our bass player Benji did a great job on the album artwork, drawing inspiration from the Japanese cinema classic Tetsuo.


Photo:

How did your relationship with Benoît at Born Dead Collective initially begin, and what has he meant for the scene at home?

I met Benoît approximately 10 years ago at a No Warning show. He’s been booking shows in Paris forever, making things actually happen in the City of Light. Last year he created Born Dead Collective, a Parisian label on which our LP is going to come out.

He’s a grumpy old head, but with the years he’s become a good friend of mine.

Any Corruption Pact shows or tours recently that really stuck with you?

Each time we play in Lille and its surroundings we have the best time. Good scene, good bands, good people.

What should people expect next from you in the coming months? With the LP coming out, are you planning to tour at all?

We’re playing six shows in the next month to support our LP. We’re stoked to play the Ieperfest pre-show and the Hellfest Open Air Hellstage.

By the end of 2026, we should also be playing abroad for a couple of runs.

What newer hardcore bands have been catching your attention lately — live or on record? It can be both at home and abroad.

There are so many of them it’s hard to pick a few, but here are three bands that have less than two years of existence you should check out: No One Wins from Lille, Premonition from the Netherlands, and Soul Hater from Paris.


Photo: @skeed.raw

Is there anything else you would you like to share with No Echo’s readership?

Long live Paris Hardcore.

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Unanswered Cries will be out on on June 5th via Born Dead Collective.

Corruption Pact on social media: Instagram

Tagged: corruption pact

About the Author

Carlos Ramirez

Owner of No Echo, Carlos Ramirez has played in the bands Black Army Jacket, Hope Collapse, and Deny the Cross. Born and raised in Queens, NY, Carlos resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two kids.