Whereas many extreme metal bands incarnate our worst nightmares, Alcest takes a different tack. Born from the mind of frontman Neige who had vivid childhood dreams of a fairytale world populated by ethereal beings, Alcest merges the singer/guitarist’s black metal roots with the dreamy outlook of shoegaze. Inspired by a Hayao Miyazaki film, their 2016 album ‘Kodama’ deals with the confrontation between the human and the natural world. Heavier than its predecessors, the riffing and vocals in particular revisit the band’s original blackgaze sound. Their 2019 effort ‘Spiritual Instinct’ continues down this path and was their first on Nuclear Blast. This summer these atmosphere masters will propose tracks off their latest album ‘Les Chants de l’Aurore’ (2024). True to Alcest form, the album’s layered guitars on a melodic base provide spiritual sanctuary for those looking to take a breather from the uncompromising metal madness raging elsewhere on the festival grounds. #GMM25
