After 13 years, 400+ shows, and a fair amount of chaos (think broken bones, stolen gear, lost friends, and hearing loss), Preoccupations continue to redefine themselves. Their fifth album, 'Ill at Ease', is a dive into uncharted musical waters, driven by a collective subconscious filled with existential questions, dystopian imagery, and a hint of hope. At times, it sounds like a soundtrack for a destroyed planet, other times like a glimpse into a distant, unknown space. Always restless, always captivating. How 'Ill at Ease' fits into the rest of their work? Hard to say. But one thing is certain: Preoccupations keep searching, and as long as the ground beneath them doesn’t disappear, they’ll keep playing.

This Brussels-based trio manage to reach the back row even with their minimal set-up. Literally. With an extremely long microphone cable, the singer races through the audience while the drummer and guitarist fire off tight-as-hell post-punk grooves. Combined with the existential millennial lyrics, it’s a poppy, trashy and completely infectious trip with no escape.