Alcest performing in 2020. From left to right: Zero, Winterhalter, Neige, Indria Saray
Background information
Origin
Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
Genres
Post-black metal
blackgaze
shoegaze
black metal (early)
Years active
2000–present
Labels
Nuclear Blast
Hyperrealist
Drakkar
Northern Silence
Prophecy
Spinoffs
Amesoeurs
Members
Neige[1]
Winterhalter
Past members
Aegnor
Argoth
Website
alcest-music.com
Alcest is a French post-black metal band from Bagnols-sur-Cèze, founded and led by Neige (Stéphane Paut).[1] It began in 2000 as a black metal solo project by Neige, then became a trio, but members Aegnor and Argoth left the band following the 2001 release of their first demo, leaving Neige as the sole member.[2][3] Neige began incorporating elements of shoegaze and post-metal into the project's sound from 2005 onwards and is largely credited with pioneering the fusion genre known as blackgaze. In 2009, drummer Winterhalter from Les Discrets joined Alcest, after eight years with Neige as its sole full-time member.
Since its creation, Alcest has released six studio albums and a number of EPs and split releases. Their fourth album, 2014's Shelter, marked a dramatic shift towards a distinctly shoegaze sound, while their subsequent album Kodama (2016) marked a return to their earlier blackgaze sound.[4][5] The band are widely credited with pioneering the blackgaze/post-black metal genre, particularly with their 2005 EP Le secret.[6][7]
^ abRatliff, Ben (13 January 2012). "Spooky Cathedrals and Twilight Moods". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
^Neige explained: "At the beginning, I created Alcest because I really loved Black Metal and I wanted to play some. With the help of Famine (Peste Noire), I wrote four tracks with a theme based on winter and the sad feelings this season conveys.""Klemi, From dream kingdoms to metro tunnels: ALCEST / AMESOEURS, Kaleidoscope mag, Issue number 4, 2007". 6 March 2012.
^Aegnor (aka La sale Famine) explained: "I played in ALCEST. In the beginning. I composed the best riff in Tristesse Hivernale, the searing riff of 'La Forêt du Cristal'. But at the behest of Neige, ALCEST became an Eden of elegant and overly nice fairies, the pastoral dream of a tender hobbit's brain. To put it bluntly, ALCEST became a fairytale country. So I had to carve out my own path...I took a shit in those cute flowery groves, sodomised the fairies, and put those elves to bed with a dose of rat poison to allow the song of the toads to flourish. Yes, I made PESTE NOIRE...because PESTE NOIRE was born only to fuck shit up.(Diary of PN)""KPN-V interview, April 1st, 2013". Archived from the original on 17 January 2014.
^"Alcest: Shelter Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
^"How terror attacks and spiritualism inspired the new Alcest album". 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
^Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Alcest is a French post-black metal band from Bagnols-sur-Cèze, founded and led by Neige (Stéphane Paut). It began in 2000 as a black metal solo project...
pioneered the fusion through projects including Alcest, Amesoeurs and Lantlôs. According to Nelson, Alcest's 2005 EP Le Secret was "the birth of blackgaze";...
Spiritual Instinct is the sixth studio album by French post-black metal band Alcest. The album was released on 25 October 2019 through Nuclear Blast and garnered...
was a French post-punk/post-black metal band. A side project of Neige of Alcest, the group was formed with musicians Audrey Sylvain and Fursy Teyssier in...
Playlist: Neige of Alcest's Favorite Post-Punk Songs". MetalSucks. Retrieved 1 November 2023. Mortonpublished, Luke (5 October 2017). "Alcest's Neige: The 10...
Season of Mist. Alcest bandleader Neige played the drums on Wistful. Shepard met Neige after an Alcest concert in 2012 and toured with Alcest in 2014. The...
and Lovers by Bernard Butler (1999, Creation Records) "Away" – Shelter by Alcest (2014, Prophecy Productions) "Lonely Heart Reverb", "Cloudy Heart" and "Lover"...
February 2012. Winterhalter left the band in 2013 to focus on his duties for Alcest. The band's third album Prédateurs, was released in April 2017, which saw...
originally from Avignon. Her first band was Amesoeurs. She also sang on Alcest's debut album. She was a full-time member in Peste Noire until her departure...
sounds, evolving past the genre's limits. Notable bands include Myrkur, Alcest, Bosse-de-Nage, and Wildernessking. Blackgaze incorporates common black...
a Wikipedia entry. For the main article, please see Blackgaze. Agalloch Alcest Altar of Plagues Amesoeurs Bosse-de-Nage Deafheaven Fen Ghost Bath Myrkur...
"metalgaze" styles. Particularly in the mid-2000s, French black metal acts Alcest and Amesoeurs began incorporating shoegaze elements into their sound, pioneering...
events of heavy metal in the year 2000. 5ive A Perfect Murder Adagio Adema Alcest Alove for Enemies Angelus Apatrida Animosity The Answer Antigama Apostasy...
Valfunde") in Avignon in 2000, initially under the name Dor Daedeloth. Neige (Alcest), who played in the band's first eight years of existence, joined him on...
for several songs that he wrote with different bands. "Élévation" (with Alcest) "Recueillement" (with Amesoeurs) "Le revenant" and "Ciel brouillé" (with...
film starring Chiranjeevi in the lead role Kodama (album), a 2016 album by Alcest This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Kodama...
and "Une Charogne" from The Flowers of Evil. French metal/shoegaze groups Alcest and Amesoeurs used his poetry for the lyrics of the tracks "Élévation" (on...
Escape Plan, Russian Circles, Electric Wizard, Carpenter Brut, Igorrr, Alcest, Cult of Luna, Battles, Public Service Broadcasting, Empire State Bastard...
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