Alcest
From:
France
Last Known Status: Active
Latest Alcest News
Below is our complete Alcest news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Displaying records 1 - 20 of 41 1 2 3 Last
Alcest Issues Album Update
Neige of French act Alcest has issued the following announcement about working on an upcoming album:
"Hello there! Some days ago Winterhalter and I recorded demos for the next Alcest album, for which I have almost finished the songwriting. Only a few arrangements are missing, and the lyrics as well... In our case they always come late in the process.
"As I said in recent interviews, you can expect something different from Alcest's previous releases. I don't think there are any metal music elements anymore, though a lot of very intense parts and dynamics are still there. Things are just done in another way, and the core remains the same. That album will come back to the nostalgic side of Alcest, it's very dreamy, aquatic and a bit less progressive than the last two albums. Melodies are taking their time to grow, if you see what I mean.
"I feel very excited about these songs and this new approach feels very refreshing to me. I also can tell that the album will be recorded next March in Iceland at Sundlaugin, Sigur Rós' studios, with producer Birgir Jón Birgisson. There will also be guests appearances - more infos about this will come later. I will keep you posted!"
Alcest will also be heading out on a European tour with Katatonia in November. Details are available at this location.
Report
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2012, Day 1
We were greeted with the first hints of summer upon arriving at Suvilahti for day one of Tuska Open air metal festival. Ahead was three full days of metal, with a lineup that would please even the trickiest of metal fans. With program guide in hand, with the most interesting acts already chosen; Day one began.
Starting the festival was Finnish thrash metallers Profane Omen. They were a perfect choice to start the weekend, and although the start time was quite early for many, Profane Omen infused the crown that arrived with enough energy to shake off even the most persistent drowsiness. Jules didn’t allow for lethargic audience members with his typical stage antics of headbanging and giving each and every song his all. They played a healthy mix of old songs and new and thus began Tuska 2012.
One thing that was quite difficult was managing take in all the festival had to offer. Having a nasty case of strep all weekend, I was lucky to be able to keep up the pit hopping and running from stage to stage to see as many acts as possible. Starting a mere 15 minutes after Profane Omen was Alcest. More...
Katatonia Announces European Tour
Swedish purveyors of dark rock/metal, Katatonia, have announced dates for an extensive European tour in support of their forthcoming 9th album "Dead End Kings," which hits stores in Europe on August 27th & North America on 28th August through Peaceville Records.
Lead Guitarist Anders Nyström comments, "We are very much looking forward to a tour that definitely stands out from the rest. Stare into November's darkness with us! Be with us at the side of December's deathbed! Come meet us at the chosen dead ends of Europe...”
Tickets go on sale from Monday July 16th, with general and VIP options being available direct from Katatonia.com and the band’s official Facebook page.
Support comes from French shoe-gazers Alcest and Boston's Junius. Katatonia will also be heading out on a North American tour in September with Paradise Lost and the Devin Townsend Project. More...
Alcest Announces Summer Festival Stops
Alcest, which recently posted a new music video for "Les Voyages De l'Âme," has now updated it's summer 2012 festival routing with the following appearances:
29.06.2012 FIN - Helsinki / Tuska-Festival
14.07.2012 LT - Anyksciai / Devilstone-Festival
08.08.2012 CZ - Josefov / Brutal Assault-Festival
10.08.2012 UK - Derbyshire / Bloodstock-Festival
16.08.2012 DE - Dinkelsbühl / Summerbreeze-Festival
17.08.2012 RO - Alba Iulia / Dark Bombastic Evening-Festival
18.08.2012 DE - Barth / BMOA-Festival
24.08.2012 NO - Oslo / STUDiO-Festival More...
More Bands Confirmed For Bloodstock 2012
The Bloodstock 2012 organizers have issued the following announcement about confirming more bands to appear at this year's festival:
"After last week’s headliner announcement - where we revealed the mighty Machine Head will be letting fans pick the songs at their first ever UK festival headline slot - Bloodstock and Machine Head are now ready to take requests.
"If you head to Facebook you can now submit your suggestions via a poll. Each fan can pick five songs from Machine Head’s incredible debut 'Burn My Eyes,' and the five most popular tracks will be performed at Catton Hall this summer.
"Bloodstock can also reveal a further three acts for the Sophie Stage and one for the Ronnie James Dio Stage. Headlining the Sophie Stage on Thursday night, raucous rockers Viking Skull bring their loud and proud metal to Bloodstock, alongside Belfast metalheads Sweet Savage. Hotly tipped newcomers Death Valley Knights show why in just a few short months their powerful metal has earned them a much coverted spot at Britain’s most metal festival, and finally Canada’s Kobra & The Lotus make their Bloodstock debut opening the Ronnie James Dio Stage on Sunday." More...
The Foreshadowing Added To Summer Breeze Lineup
The organizers of the upcoming Summer Breeze 2012 festival have issued the following update about confirming new acts:
"Italy is not exactly a hotbed for dark doom metal. Fortunately enough, there are always exceptions to confirm the rule. With the three albums they have released so far, The Foreshadowing have provided a master class in gloom and doom. Hailing from Rome, the band prove that it is indeed possible to write great atmospheric songs without falling into excessive pathos and kitsch. Especially singer Marco Benevento's clear, ear-piercing vocals take the group's material to a level which is only populated by bands such as Katatonia, My Dying Bride, early Anathema and even Opeth. Don't miss this black pearl of darkness! You will hardly experience anything bigger, darker and more epic at Summer Breeze 2012!
"Breakdowns aren't exactly the most innovative element in metal nowadays... However, if you use them with such conviction and vehemence as Bleed From Within, even the most athletically challenged of metalheads should soon mutate into pit fighter number one. The UK band have two albums out which should appeal to fans of As I Lay Dying, Bring Me The Horizon and Parkway Drive, while at times Bleed From Within are even more melodic than the aforementioned bands, only to dive into a brutal breakdown the very next second. All fans of metalcore and deathcore should highlight this band in their personal running order, as this is the perfect stuff for all of them!"
The festival is set to take place from August 16th - 18th, will full details available at this location. The currently announced bill is as follows: More...
Alcest Posts New Music Video
French black/shoegaze act Alcest posted a music video for the title track of the latest LP "Les Voyages de l'Âme." The video was written, directed and edited by Toshadeva Palani. The album was released this past January through Prophecy Productions.
Check out the video here:
Two More Bands Confirmed For Bloodstock 2012
Finnish pagan metal outfit Moonsorrow and German power metal group Freedom Call have been confrmed as the latest two bands to take part in this years edition of the British metal festival, Bloodstock Open Air, which will take place at Catton Hall in Walton On Trent, Derbyshire from August 10th-12th.
Speaking on the confirmation, Moonsorrow stated: "We are truly excited to take part in Bloodstock Festival 2012. It's been way too long since we played on the British soil in 2008 and we know that lately there has been a huge demand for Moonsorrow to play in the UK. So, all our loyal fans in the UK, we want to see a massive crowd of insane berserks during our set. Don't let us down because we promise we don't let you down, cheers!"
Freedom Call added: "The Bloodstock Festival is the pulsating heart of Heavy Metal...a great audience, which knows exactly to revel."
The lineup for the festival is now as follows: More...
Crowbar And More Added To Bloodstock
With a plethora of metal talent already on offer - including Alice Cooper, Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, Testament, Hatebreed and loads more - Bloodstock Open Air has another addition to it’s main stage, in the form of New Orleans sludge-monsters Crowbar. The organizers of the festival commented:
"The epitome of heavy, Kirk Windstein and co have been showing the world that speed isn’t everything since their debut 'Obedience Thru Suffering' stunned the metal world in 1991 with its downtuned, slow-paced yet punishingly heavy sound. With nine studio albums under their very large belts, Crowbar have mastered the art of the riff, continually delivering irresistible sludgey metal via a sound uniquely their own. With mammoth sludgey slabs such as 'I Despise,' 'All I Had (I Gave),' 'Time He’s Nothing,' 'Like Broken Glass,' 'Nothing' and many more, the Ronnie James Dio Stage will be put to the test at Crowbar’s only UK festival of 2012.
"Over on the Sophie stage, additions come in the form of homegrown extreme symphonic metallers and Metal 2 The Masses winners Saturnian, fellow countrymen and Melo-death thrashers Bloodshot Dawn, as well as Finnish melodic death metallers Re-Armed."
Tickets and more information on the festival can be found at the official Bloodstock website. The currently announced lineup is as follows: More...
Alcest Comments On Upcoming Shows
Alcest vocalist/instrumentalist Neige has checked in with the following update about the band's upcoming tour plans:
I would just like to express my gratitude to all our fans, for their endless love and their great feedbacks on the new album. As you suppose it was a huge amount of work for us and we feel very happy that people enjoyed entering the Alcest's ethereal realm once again! I am sorry not being able to reply all of the e-mails we get but be sure that I read everything with a lot of attention and reply as often as I can.
"As you know we are starting an European tour in a couple of days with our friends from Les Discrets and Soror Dolorosa. We hope many of you will come!
"We will also tour as headliners in the U.S.A in March and April. Maybe some of you will remember, we promised it when talking to people during our last Enslaved/Alcest/Junius tour. Be sure that we will play a much longer show this time! Thanks to you all again, your support is very important to us.
"With light, Neige."
For a complete list of the upcoming Alcest tour dates, head over to the band's Facebook profile.
Deafheaven Announces U.S. And European Shows
San Francisco, CA's Deafheaven is gearing up to start the band's first European headlining tour on February 3rd with Hierophant. The tour is set to run through February 25th, and will hit Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Belgium, France, the UK, and more.
Upon returning home, Deafheaven will head out on tour in North America, starting in L.A. on a string of dates with Whirr and Marriages (feat. members of Red Sparrowes), making its way down to play at this year's SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX. Deafheaven will then meet up with black metal/shoegaze masters Alcest. Dates are as follows: More...
Alcest Streaming Entire New Album
The entire new Alcest album "Les Voyages De L'Âme" is currently available for streaming now on the Prophecy Productions YouTube channel, or you can check out the songs through YouTube playlist below.
The track listing is as follows:
1. Autre Temps
2. Là Où Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles
3. Les Voyages de L'Âme
4. Nous Sommes L'Emeraude
5. Beings of Light
6. Faiseurs de Mondes
7. Havens
8. Summer's Glory More...
Alcest Posts New Album Sample
Alcest has posted a sample clip online from the band's new album "Les Voyages De L'Âme," which is due for release on January 6th, 2012. Check out the clip below.
The band also posted a video online for a single taken off the album, titled "Autre Temps." Watch the video at this location.
Alcest Releases "Autre Temps" Video
French act Alcest has posted a music video online for the song "Autre Temps," which is the first single off the band's upcoming third album, "Les Voyages De L'Âme." You can check out the video clip below.
The single is out now as limited etched vinyl 7" at this location and via digital download. The full "Les Voyages De L'Âme" album will be out on January 6th, 2012. You can find the album's artwork here.
Alcest Posts New Album Artwork
Alcest has announced the band's upcoming album will be titled "Les Voyages De L'Âme," and the cover artwork for the release has now been posted online and is available below. More details on the album will be announced as they are made available.
A music video was also shot for a new single taken from the album, titled "Autre Temps," which will be released in December. A teaser for the single can be found at this location.
Alcest Posts "Autre Temps" Teaser
A teaser trailer has been posted online for "Autre Temps," the upcoming new single from Alcest. Prophecy Productions commented on the clip:
"See here a short teaser for 'Autre Temps,' the advance single of Alcest's upcoming album 'Les Voyages De L'Âme.' A professional video clip has been shot for this, and it will be unveiled on December 2nd. The very same day will see the release of the single as digital download and limited etched vinyl!"
OpEd
Black Metal: The Shoegaze Wave
Back in 2005, Alcest released a two song EP called “Le Secret,” a gem that eventually would cause a stir in the hornet nest that is the black metal community. If you didn't gather by the title, Alcest is a French band, and one masterminded by front-man Neige. With a strong pedigree in the French black metal scene, Neige was a musician who not only came forward in the 00s with multiple acts in Alcest and Amesoeurs, but also made contributions to essential French albums from the likes of Mortifera and Peste Noire. While Norway and the adjacent Scandinavian realms are often thought of as the wintery fortress of black metal, the French have long held their own with a melancholic and melodic take on the genre including the infamous Les Légions Noires whom you can read about in a previous Metal Underground Sunday Old School article.
So, what was so special about Neige’s little two song EP? Well for one it wasn’t little at all. It was nearly 30 minutes long and an infusion of 90s shoegaze, post-rock, and perfectly distilled black metal. More...
Junius Joining Enslaved On Tour
Dark rock group Junius has unveiled the first new song, “All Shall Float,” from the forthcoming album, "Reports From the Threshold of Death," today on BrooklynVegan.com at this location.
Additionally, Junius will be joining Norwegian metal legends Enslaved and French outfit Alcest for a tour this fall, which kicks off on September 23rd in Springfield, VA. The dates are as follows:
9/23 Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
9/24 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre
9/25 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
9/26 Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East
9/28 Quebec City, QC @ Impérial
9/29 Montreal, QC @ Café Campus
9/30 Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/1 Columbus, OH @ Outland Live
10/2 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
10/3 St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
10/5 Winnipeg, MB @ WECC
10/6 Regina, SK @ The Exchange
10/7 Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
10/8 Calgary, AB @ Dickens
10/10 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
10/11 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
10/12 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
10/13 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
10/14 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
Alcest Announces New Album Title
Shoegaze black metallers Alcest have announced "Les voyages de l'âme" (translated: "The Journeys of the Soul") as the title of their new album.
The French group plans to release the album in early 2012. "Les Voyages..." follows the group's 2010 effort "Écailles De Lune."
No more information is present at the time of this article. Check back in with Metalunderground.com in the next few weeks for more details.
Enslaved Announces North American Headline Tour
European progressive black metallers Enslaved have revealed the dates for its forthcoming headine tour of North America. Support on the trek is set to come from Ghost and Alcest. You can view the full list of dates, cities and venues below.
09/23 Springfield, VA – Jaxx
09/24 Millvale, PA – Mr. Small’s Theatre
09/25 New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
09/26 Cambridge, MA – The Middle East
09/28 Quebec City, QC – Impérial
09/29 Montreal, QC – Cafe Campus
09/30 Toronto, ON – Opera House
10/01 Columbus, OH – Outland Live
10/02 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
10/03 St. Paul, MN – Station 4
10/05 Winnipeg, MB – WECC
10/06 Regina, SK – The Exchange
10/07 Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
10/08 Calgary, AB – Dickens
10/10 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
10/11 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
10/12 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
10/13 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
10/14 Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour
