Alcest is a French post-metal band from Bagnols-sur-Cèze, founded and led by Neige (Stéphane Paut). It began in 2000 as a black metal solo project by Neige, soon a trio, but following the release of their first demo in 2001
On January 15, 2016, Neige published “New album. Recording started.” on the band’s Facebook page. He also commented the album would be “definitively darker.” On May 16, he stated that the album was in the mastering process. On July 26, the title was revealed to be Kodama, and the release date to be September 30. Neige has said the album is heavily inspired by Japanese art and culture, as well as Hayao Miyazaki’s film Princess Mononoke. Musically the album is a return to the band’s more traditional blackgaze sound.
ALCEST’s 6th album is called “Spiritual Instinct“ and will be released on the 25th of October on Nuclear Blast. “The recording of “Spiritual Instinct“ has been a long and challenging process, but we feel really proud of it and can’t wait to share our new music with all of you.”
The artwork has been made by the Parisian duo Førtifem and represents a sphinx, as a reference to the symbolism art movement. The sphinx is the ultimate figure of the enigma, which embodies both the spiritual and feral sides inside us.
