{{Short description|Chinese post-punk/experimental rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Re-Tros | native_name = 重塑雕像的权利 | native_name_lang= zh | background = group_or_band | origin = Beijing, China | genre = Post-punk, experimental rock, indie rock | years_active = 2003–present | label = Modern Sky (摩登天空) | current_members = * Hua Dong ({{lang|zh|华东}}) – vocals, guitar, keyboards * Liu Min ({{lang|zh|刘敏}}) – bass, vocals, keyboards * Huang Jin ({{lang|zh|黄锦}}) – drums, percussion }}
'''Re-Tros''', stylized as '''Re-TROS''' (an abbreviation of Rebuilding the Rights of Statues, {{langx|zh|重塑雕像的权利}}) is a Chinese rock band formed in Beijing in 2003. The group is noted for blending post-punk and experimental rock elements, with intricate arrangements, electronics and an energetic live presence that has drawn international attention.<ref name=Quietus>{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Patrick |title=Voyaging Further Outwards: Re-TROS' ''Before The Applause'' |url=https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/album-of-the-week/re-tros-before-the-applause-lead-album-review/ |website=The Quietus |date=14 September 2017 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><ref name=TimeOut>{{cite web |title=Re-TROS: 'We don't always want to be on the same road' |url=https://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Music-Music_features/43089/Re-TROS-We-don%E2%80%99t-always-want-to-be-on-the-same-road.html |website=Time Out Shanghai |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
== History == === Formation and early years (2003–2009) === Re-Tros formed in 2003 in Beijing. The current core line-up comprises Hua Dong (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Liu Min (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Huang Jin (drums, percussion). The band signed to the Chinese label Modern Sky and released the EP ''Cut Off!'' in 2005; during the recording, Brian Eno contributed improvised parts using synthesizers and electronic treatments, which drew attention within China’s indie scene.<ref name=Sina2007>{{cite web |title=重塑雕像的权利 2005–2006 年重要行程（新闻综合） |url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2007-04-05/08531506245.html |website=Sina Entertainment |language=zh |date=5 April 2007 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
The band’s early activity included Beijing livehouse performances and a national tour following the EP release. In 2009, Re-TROS issued their first full-length album, ''Watch Out! Climate Has Changed, Fat Mum Rises...'', expanding their palette with more electronic and experimental elements.<ref name=TimeOut/>
=== International activity and ''Before the Applause'' (2010–2017) === In 2011, Re-Tros toured Australia with Gang of Four and appeared at Japan’s Summer Sonic festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Re-TROS |url=https://offshore-mcc.net/interview/167/ |website=Offshore |date=15 September 2011 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref> In 2013, they supported Public Image Ltd on the group’s first shows in China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Re-TROS: early 2010s international supports |url=https://offshore-mcc.net/interview/167/ |website=Offshore |date=15 September 2011 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
Re-TROS released their second studio album, ''Before the Applause'' (2017), produced by Hector Castillo (known for work with David Bowie, Lou Reed and Björk). The record received positive critical notices in English-language media: ''The Quietus'' praised its boundary-blurring approach between post-punk and electronica,<ref name=Quietus/> while ''Loud and Quiet'' awarded it four stars.<ref name="Re-TROS – Before the Applause">{{cite web |title=Re-TROS – ''Before the Applause'' |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/re-tros-applause/ |website=Loud and Quiet |date=14 September 2017 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
Later in 2017, the band opened European arena dates for Depeche Mode on their Global Spirit Tour,<ref name="archives.depechemode.com">{{cite web |title=Global Spirit Tour – Dates and support |url=https://archives.depechemode.com/past_tours/globalspirittour/dates.html |website=Depeche Mode Archives |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><ref name="musicrepublicmagazine.com">{{cite web |title=Chinese rock stars open Depeche Mode's UK tour |url=https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2017/11/chinese-rock-stars-open-depeche-modes-uk-tour/ |website=Music Republic Magazine |date=November 2017 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref> and appeared as the opening act for The xx in Beijing during the band’s Asia tour.<ref>{{cite web |title=The xx 北京站演出现场报道（含开场嘉宾重塑雕像的权利） |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/222636372_109401 |website=Sohu |language=zh |date=26 January 2018 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref> They also toured North America that year, including as co-headliners or tour partners with Xiu Xiu.<ref name="Xiu Xiu announce tour with Re-TROS">{{cite web |title=Xiu Xiu announce tour with Re-TROS |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/xiu-xiu-announce-tour-with-re-tros/ |website=BrooklynVegan |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
=== Domestic profile and large-scale shows (2018–2021) === In 2018, Re-Tros received recognition at domestic music awards for ''Before the Applause'', including honours at the CMA Music Awards such as Band of the Year and Best Rock Album.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 CMA 音乐奖颁奖礼要点回顾 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/244713706_622291 |website=Sohu |language=zh |date=31 July 2018 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
The group participated in the 2020 reality music programme ''The Big Band'' (Season 2) on iQIYI, which broadened their mainstream visibility.<ref>{{cite web |title=《乐队的夏天2》相关报道（含重塑雕像的权利） |url=http://yn.people.com.cn/BIG5/n2/2020/1012/c372315-34343407.html |website=People.cn |language=zh |date=12 October 2020 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
In May 2021, Re-Tros launched the arena-scale concert series, After the Applause, with a headline show at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai reported at around 10,000 attendees—unusual for a Chinese indie rock act.<ref name=Bandwagon2021>{{cite web |last=Lau |first=Elly |title=Re-TROS' China concert: 10,000 people attend biggest Shanghai show in 2021 |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/re-tros-china-concert-10-000-people-biggest-shanghai-2021-covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-live-music-performances |website=Bandwagon Asia |date=31 May 2021 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><ref name=IQ2021>{{cite web |title=10,000 people attend Re-TROS arena show in Shanghai |url=https://www.iq-mag.net/2021/06/10000-people-attend-re-tros-arena-show-shanghai/ |website=IQ Magazine |date=1 June 2021 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
=== Recent years (2022–present) === Between 2022 and 2023, Re-Tros undertook their InBetween China tour. In 2024, the band mounted the RE+ North American tour with Liars and Battles, covering eight cities including New York, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Boston and Chicago.<ref name="brooklynvegan.com">{{cite web |title=Beijing's Re-TROS announce North American tour with Liars & Battles |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/beijings-re-tros-announce-north-american-tour-with-liars-battles/ |website=BrooklynVegan |date=27 February 2024 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref> In April 2024, Re-TROS recorded a live session at KEXP in Seattle; the performance video was published in May 2024.<ref>{{cite video |title=Re-TROS – Live on KEXP |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wARpKaLGYYM |website=YouTube |publisher=KEXP |date=30 May 2024 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
During the 40th anniversary of China–France diplomatic relations, the band performed at the China–France Next Beats Beyond Borders Youth Music Festival alongside Jean-Benoît Dunckel and others.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Electronic Music × New Jazz × New Rock — 2024 China–France Youth Music |url=https://bcaf.org.cn/NEW-ELECTRONIC-MUSIC-X-NEW-JAZZ-X-NEW-ROCK-2024-China-France-Youth |website=BCAF |language=zh |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref> Later in 2024, Re-Tros toured the UK (London and Manchester) and appeared in China and Japan on co-bills with Zazen Boys.<ref name="en.club-quattro.com">{{cite web |title=Re-TROS Japan Special Set Tour with Zazen Boys |url=https://en.club-quattro.com/umeda/schedule/detail/?cd=016463 |website=Club Quattro |access-date=9 October 2025 |archive-date=22 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222160647/https://en.club-quattro.com/umeda/schedule/detail/?cd=016463 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Musical style == Critics have described Re-Tros' sound as a tense and minimalist hybrid of post-punk, electronics and experimental rock, balancing a cold, mechanical edge with bursts of live intensity.<ref name=Quietus/><ref name=TimeOut/>
== Critical reception == ''The Quietus'' lauded ''Before the Applause'' as “a bold, unpredictable record that blurs boundaries between post-punk and electronica.”<ref name=Quietus/> ''Billboard'' highlighted the dark, visually striking video for “Sounds for Celebration.”<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Liars' Angus Andrew directs Re-TROS' dark & trippy "Sounds for Celebration" (exclusive) |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/liars-angus-andrew-directs-re-tros-sounds-for-celebration-music-video-exclusive-8463382/ |magazine=Billboard |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref> ''Loud and Quiet'' praised the album’s internationalist sensibility.<ref name="Re-TROS – Before the Applause"/>
== Discography == === Studio albums === * ''Cut Off!'' (EP, 2005)<ref name=Sina2007/> * ''Watch Out! Climate Has Changed, Fat Mum Rises...'' (2009)<ref name=TimeOut/> * ''Before the Applause'' (2017)<ref name=Quietus/>
=== Selected singles === * "Viva Murder" (demo, 2012) * "Pigs in the River" (2017) * "8+2+8 II" (2017) * "8+2+8 I" (Paul Frick Remix) (2017) * "Three-Body" (2023)
== Tours == === Selected international tours === * Support for Depeche Mode on their Global Spirit Tour (Europe, 2017).<ref name="archives.depechemode.com"/><ref name="musicrepublicmagazine.com"/> * North America (2017, incl. dates with Xiu Xiu).<ref name="Xiu Xiu announce tour with Re-TROS"/> * RE+ North America (2024).<ref name="brooklynvegan.com"/> * UK (2024).<ref>{{cite web |title=Re-TROS (UK dates, 2024) |url=https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2017/11/chinese-rock-stars-open-depeche-mode-modes-uk-tour/ |website=Music Republic Magazine |access-date=9 October 2025 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> * China/Japan special set with Zazen Boys (2024).<ref name="en.club-quattro.com"/>
=== Major domestic concerts === * After the Applause arena series (2021–2024), incl. Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, 22 May 2021).<ref name=Bandwagon2021/><ref name=IQ2021/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://re-tros.band|Official Website}}
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Category:Chinese indie rock groups Category:Chinese rock music groups Category:Chinese post-punk music groups Category:Musical groups established in 2003 Category:2003 establishments in China