Hangman's Chair
Hangman's Chair were a French doom metal band formed in Crosne, Essonne, in 2005. The group's final lineup consisted of vocalist and guitarist Cédric Toufouti, guitarist Julien Chanut, bassist Clément Hanvic and drummer Mehdi Birouk Thépegnier.
With roots in the hardcore punk scene and after participating in several local bands, Chanut, Thépegnier and Sid-Ahmed Azzouni formed Hangman's Chair. The band's debut album, (A Lament for...) The Addicts, released in 2007, featured Kéo Nackphouminhcode: lao promoted to code: lo on vocals. After Nackphouminhcode: lao promoted to code: lo 's departure and the group's reconfiguration in 2008, they released Leaving Paris in 2010. Both albums were more oriented towards stoner and sludge metal. Azzouni died in 2010.
With a stable lineup in place, Hangman's Chair launched a trilogy, beginning with the 2012 album Hope /// Dope /// Rope, when they found a musical identity and worked to dissociate themselves from the stoner and sludge metal designations. This Is Not Supposed To Be Positive, released in 2015, marked the introduction of cold wave synthesisers into their sound. Their fifth album, Banlieue Triste (2018), showcased a pronounced use of reverb and chorus effects, while their blend of doom metal and post-punk atmospherics became noticeable. They then signed with Spinefarm Records for releases in all territories outside France. The band also benefited from media exposure in the country.
Hangman's Chair left Spinefarm and signed with Nuclear Blast Records in 2021. The band commenced a new trilogy with A Loner (2022), characterised by a more introspective, melodic and atmospheric style, and gothic sounds. The album produced the singles "Loner", "Who Wants To Die Old" and "Cold & Distant". 2025's Saddiction continued where A Loner had left off, blending their metal with gothic, cold wave, shoegaze, post-rock and other musical styles. It spawned several singles, including "2 am Thoughts". The band's themes are generally dark and gloomy, set amidst mysterious, "claustrophobic" urban landscapes. Their discography demonstrates a gradual transition towards a clean singing voice. Hangman's Chair suspended their activities in November 2025 for an indefinite period.
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