In Situ: Dark, Delicate, and Distinctly Maudits

Band: Maudits

Album: In Situ

Release Date: 07 November 2025

Vinyl Release: Shipping around release day.

The steady stream of new releases shows no sign of slowing up, and I’m thrilled to see Maudits return with their latest album, In Situ, which is set for release on November 7th. I’ve been following this collective since their 2021 debut Angle Mort, and was completely captivated by their breathtaking 2024 release, Precipice, which arrived with an exquisite vinyl edition that perfectly matched its sonic beauty.

Now expanded to a quartet with the addition of cellist Raphaël Verguin, Maudits have evolved both in scale and sound. Their music has always walked a fine line between post-rock grandeur and ambient subtlety, touched with the poise of classical compositions, a balance they’ve consistently mastered. Polished yet emotive, their earlier work always shimmered and delivered.

With In Situ, however, the band takes a bolder, more instinctive leap. Forgoing the meticulous layering of their past, band members Olivier Dubuc, Erwan Lombard and Christophe Hiegel have embraced a more immediate, spontaneous writing process, composing and recording within a brief but intense creative burst. The result is a record that feels more visceral and dare I say, less polished! There’s a new bite, a palpable tension beneath the surface that adds grit to their trademark elegance. In Situ captures Maudits at their most alive and with a sound that’s more compelling than ever.

The opener Leftovers immediately establishes that unmistakable Maudits sound. It’s a careful balance of orchestral depth and raw heaviness, almost Opeth-like in its sophistication. Tremolo-picked guitars and snare-driven rhythms waltz and twist in dark harmony until a dense, chugging riff crashes through, injecting a surge of unrefined power. Layers stack and swell, building into a cacophony of post-rock grit, almost like some kind of controlled chaos wrapped in elegance. That’s followed quickly by Fall Over which carries that momentum forward, keeping things dark, sinister, and simmering with restrained energy. It teases its release, brooding and seductive, before finally unfurling the weight it’s been holding back.

Covering Portishead’s Roads is a daring move for any band, one misstep and the fall can be brutal. Yet, with Mayline Gautié’s hauntingly precise vocal delivery, Maudits transform risk into triumph. The rendition retains the fragile emotion and stark melancholy of the original, while adding a new dimension of tension and atmosphere. The result is a cover that respects rather than imitates.

Precipice Part III ties back to the band’s earlier work, opening in a state of mournful reflection. Atmospheric and slow-burning, it’s rich with texture and the interplay between cello and lead guitar is nothing short of beautiful. As the tempo gradually rises, so too does its emotional resonance. The track breathes, swells, and ultimately blossoms into something deeply uplifting.

The album’s biggest surprise comes with the chilling guest vocals of Olivier Lacroix on the ominous Carré d’As. His delivery is menacing and unnerving, injecting a sinister energy that reshapes the album’s entire atmosphere.

Closing with Lev-Ken, Maudits fully showcase their mastery of orchestration. The composition swells and recedes with elegance and tension, carried by haunting cello melodies that leave a lingering ache. It’s a fitting finale and an intricate, shadow-laced piece that encapsulates the band’s evolution while staying rooted in their original identity. With their trademark French flair twisted by a dark, cinematic undercurrent, Maudits deliver another release that's refined yet delightfully unsettling. It’s another positive step forward for the band and one that will no doubt be welcomed with open arms

In Situ | Maudits