Photo by Philippe Larocque

CRABE’s (Montreal, QC) special brand of “présent-punk” blends complex structures and surreal melodies. Comprised of Mertin Hoëk (Télégraphe Jungle, IDALG, Jesuslesfilles, Leamers, etc.) and Gabriel Lapierre (Après l’Asphalte, Varger, etc.), the odd duo is known for the chaos that ensues during their live performances as well as their abandon on stage, making them a must-see artist in the Quebec experimental music scene of the last 15 years.  

During a career that saw them play over 300 shows, the pair has shared the stage with transcendent artists such as Voivod, An Albatros, Deerhoof, METZ, Big Business, Tera Melos, Yonatan Gat, Jello Biafra, FET.NAT, Corridor, Victime, Upsilon Acrux and American Devices. During Les Francofolies de Montréal 2019, they joined Hubert Lenoir’s backing band for a unique concert series at legendary venue Les Foufounes Électriques. The artist behind cult album, Darlène, had also made a surprise appearance during CRABE’s concert at Distorsion Psych Fest in May 2019, blowing away the crowd and critics alike.

In 2009, CRABE inked a contract with Signed By Force (Red Mass, Bionic, Devil Eyes, etc.) which led to the full length, Ero Gaki. In 2011, started a prolific collaboration with independent label Cuchabata Records that saw the montreal-based duo release a staggering 3 albums in 4 years: 1982, Mort de Fraîche Date and Anti-Vague. In mai 2016, the band launched independent effort, Le temps f33l, that would go on to win Punk Album Of The Year at GAMIQ. Followed a surprised participation at Les Francouvertes, a music contest where they fascinated crowds and juries with an ever evolving set of performances, propulsing the duo into the finals which had the artistic community thrilled.

Fueled by this newfound interest from casual music listeners, CRABE announced their 8th album, Sentients, produced by Mathieu Seulement (Seulement). Also they offered a movie who translated the ideas of the album of the same name. The full length was released via Pantoum Records in may 2021 to be distributed on Propagande Distribution, Believe Canada et Kuroneko Media, all the while achieving great critical success. Shortly after, the album went on high rotation on all Quebec independent radio stations.  

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PRESS

Sentient, son huitième, est une nécessaire injection de folie et de courroux en ces temps encabanés, qui de plus présente le travail de Mertin Hoëk (chant, guitare) et de Gabriel Lapierre (percussions, voix) sous une autre lumière en raison de l’usage, par ce dernier, d’une batterie électronique.
— Le Devoir
the album, which features the band’s signature addictive hooks, repetitive guitar lines and mind-bending switches, but with raucous acoustic drums replaced by an electronic V-Drum from the early 2000s.
— CULT MTL
Certaines similarités sont observables depuis la naissance du redoutable crustacé; un son agressif d’allégeance hardcore, des rythmes complexes de types mathcore ou prog-métal, des arrangements chargés, une désinvolture d’esprit punk, des textes rudement exprimés en joual keb.
— PAN M 360

Landmark Events

SHARED STAGE WITH  
METZ, BIG BUSSINESS, JESSICA93, JELLO BIAFRA, HUBERT LENOIR, OUGHT, TERA MELOS, DOWNTOWN BOYS,
DUB TRIO, ZOOBOMBS, MARTIN BISI, AN ALBATROSS, MARNIE STERN

FESTIVALS
LES FRANCOS
FLOURISH
POP MONTRÉAL
FESTIVOIX
DISTORSION
LES NUITS PSYCHÉDÉLIQUES
SUONI PER IL POPOLO
ARTEFACT
POUZZA
TAVERNE TOUR
OFF (FESTIVAL D'ÉTÉ DE QUÉBEC)

AWARD
GAMIQ 2016 - MEILLEUR ALBUM PUNK:
LE TEMPS F33L
GAMIQ 2016 - COUVERTURE D'ALBUM DE L'ANNÉE: 
LE TEMPS F33L