Review ALCEST “Les Chants de l’Aurore”

French metal outfit Alcest are Neige and Winterhalter. What the duo deliver on a regular basis are blistering longplayers with high quality music. Four years after the release of ‘Spiritual Instinct’, Alcest are back with their latest effort, “Les Chants de l’aurore”. This is the second album the band has released on Nuclear Blast Records, and is another example of a band with a lot of creativity.

Alcest have always infused their music with a great degree of emotion, and this is a crucial factor in the success and beauty of their releases. The harsh black metal roots of the early days seem to be far behind, and what Alcest delivers these days is an emotional rollercoaster ride through the depth of the human soul. It is the constant tension between anxiety and hope, fear and harmony that drives these songs. And because these are struggles we all know well, the music speaks to listeners in a special way.

It is not easy to categorise Alcest into a specific genre, as the music is a mixture of many influences and styles. Progressive on the one hand, party melancholy with a furious outburst and at the same time fragile and calm, this is what fans can expect from “Les Chants de l’aurore” and it all starts with the frame-providing opener “Komorebi”. The French sonic architects have constructed an excellent musical milestone that reflects all the above-mentioned trademarks. Much of the album’s basic inspiration comes from Neige’s childhood experiences, as evidenced by a child’s voice in the opener with a few ‘hey’ shouts.

Each of the songs is a treat for the ears and mind, with tracks like ‘L’Envpoi’ being a great moment on the album. The song, as well as the album, has an almost light-hearted vibe, which doesn’t mean some pop-like sing-along songs. The spirit of the album is very similar to that of the artwork. The mood of the peaceful looking painting is reflected in each of the songs. Harmony, with a melancholic touch, is something that runs through each of the songs as a common denominator.

The piano driven ‘Réminiscence’ adds to the greatness of the album as it is a very gentle moment on this release. After such a tangible moment, “L’Enfant de la Lune” takes over and after a soft start with some narrative vocals, the song gains in intensity and pace. The fast drumming pushes hard and adds heaviness to the song while the harmonic vocals are a well installed contrast.

With “Les Chants de l’aurore”, Alcest have added an excellent album to their long list of great achievements. Emotions, musical layers, heaviness and creativity find the perfect sweet spot for music that comes from within and touches the heart and soul. “Les Chants de l’aurore” – a lasting joy for mind and soul.