Le recueil des clowns (roughly translated as “The Clown Compendium”) is the debut EP by Montreal-based punk band Conflit Majeur, released in 2023. Fun, frenzied, and fast paced, Recueil is a joyous whirlwind of classic, high-energy punk. The Terrebonne, Quebec natives’ record is a great starting point for anyone looking to break into the Francophone punk scene.
Track 1: Bienvenue au Cirque
The instrumental “Bienvenue au Cirque” (Welcome to the Circus) opens the EP with a bang as the sound of tapping sticks counts the listener in to an unrelenting minute of drumming, setting the definitive tone and pace for the rest of the record. If you’re new to Conflit Majeur, this opening track is an excellent example of the kind of energy you can expect from the group.
Track 2: Depanneur Blowjob
“Depanneur Blowjob” tells a tale in two acts – initially upset that the neighborhood depanneur (the Quebec equivalent of a bodega or convenience store) has made you redundant by offering its customers blowjobs, your frustration quickly dissipates when you head inside for a happy ending of your own. The walking bassline meanders up and down, adding a new dimension of melody and texture to the chorus. A live show crowd favourite, I can tell you that nothing feels quite like thrashing around in a packed venue full of sweaty, shirtless lunkheads all screaming “DEPANNEUR BLOWJOB!” at the top of their lungs. Cathartic, absolutely.
Track 3: Quel Genre de Dieu
My personal favourite on the record, “Quel Genre de Dieu” (What Kind of God), opens with an intriguing, thumping drum intro, building quickly into a thrashing guitar hook. The lyrics are piercingly punchy (ex: “You’re the reason I don’t believe in Him / What kind of God would let you see the face of the Earth”), and the way vocalist Justin Thibault shouts “quel genre de dieu?” over the chorus is convincing enough to make you genuinely wonder.
Track 4: Pâte à Modeler
A Rancidesque bassline on “Pâte À Modeler” (Modeling Clay) cheerfully closes out this four-track EP. The song’s chorus is both catchy and poignant – “I’m fed up with being taken for a lump of modeling clay,” sings Thibault: “It’s not money that is going to shape me” – demonstrating the group’s more serious lyrical capabilities and cementing their status as ones to watch.
Clocking in at a whopping 8 minutes and 14 seconds, Le recueil des clowns is quintessentially punk –fun, fast, and with mention of blowjobs. Conflit Majeur’s passion and enthusiasm shine bright in this record, its exuberant yet grounded sound setting a solid foundation for the band’s growing local popularity.
The group is currently finishing up their next project, likely due for release some time this year. If it has half the vibrancy and energy of Recueil des clowns, I’d say we’re all in for a pretty good time.