Alcest, Auckland NZ, 2017

Alcest

24th April 2017
Whammy! Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review and Photography by Sarah Kidd.

It may have been a Monday in Auckland last night, but with a public holiday today fans are taking full advantage of being out on what would technically be a school night. French band Alcest is making their first appearance in not only Auckland but New Zealand itself having played Wellington on Sunday.

In support of this prestigious band are Auckland four piece The Dark Third with their unique brand of atmospheric progressive rock.

Followed close behind are Mothra; an instrumental four piece also from Auckland. Their music is more than adept at taking the listener on a journey as it weaves its way around you. Tracks such as ‘Scythe’ and ‘Decision Process’ are stand outs for the evening; the crowd are even treated to some new material in the form of ‘Immunity’. They are the perfect choice for warming up the venue prior to the arrival of Alcest.

Alcest hail from Bagnols-sur-Cèze and were founded by Stéphane Paut, who is better known as Neige (Snow) by his fans. Neige originally began Alcest 17years ago as a Black Metal solo project but was joined in 2009 by former Peste Noire drummer Winterhalter. When playing live Alcest appear as a four piece with Zero on guitar and backing vocals as well as Indria Saray on bass. The band have released five studio albums, however it was their 2005 EP ‘Le Secret’ that saw them being credited with creating the ‘Blackglaze’ genre. Their fourth album Shelter saw Alcest shift more towards ‘Shoegaze’, but with their latest offering ‘Kodama’ they are back to what they know best.

As Alcest take the stage, the crowd jostles for the best vantage point, Whammy Bar once again having its sides stretched by the capacity crowd. In simple t-shirts and jeans, and all with long flowing hair the band members take up their respective positions as the intro track ‘Onyx’ plays over the speakers. Then we are off with the title track from their latest offering ‘Kodama’ – a wall of beautiful sound being built around us, the band moving as one as they head bang in unison.

Many of Alcest’s tracks are instrumental, multi-dimensional soundscapes that are intricate in nature. On the tracks where Neige sings (often backed by Zero whose harmonies are quite exquisite) his subtle French vocals transcend the space around them, transporting us to ‘Fairy Land’ the name that Neige gives to the place that as a child he had ‘experiences of being in contact with’. Their latest album Kodama is influenced by the Hayao Miyasaki film ‘Princess Mononoke’ which translates as ‘tree spirit’ in Japanese. It explores the concept of living between two worlds and striving to establish “a sense of being”.

The audience are completely transfixed by the band, moving as a singular entity in time with the music. The set is peppered with heavier tracks such as ‘Ecailles De Lune – Part 2’ which explode forth and into the faces of the front row. Instantly the crowd are transformed into a beast, unleashing themselves against the waves of guitar.

Occasionally Neige addresses the crowd; softly spoken he thanks all for being present and explains how grateful they are to be playing in New Zealand for the first time. A few audience members call out something in French which immediately brings a smile to Neige’s face as he commends them on their annunciation.

Following the driving ‘La Ou Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles’ Neige informs us that the last song for the night is “much calmer”. Finishing their set on ‘Delivrance’ the crowd erupts in applause for what has been an absolute triumph of a set. The band exits quietly, but a chant of ‘one more song’ quickly gains momentum, the fans not quite ready for it all to end just yet. With smiles and nods Alcest return to the stage and reward the fans efforts with the blistering ‘Percees De Lumiere’ but not before Neige grins and says “You guys are fucking crazy – thank you”.

The ideal ending to what has been an ethereal night.

Were you there at Whammy! Bar for this masterclass in atmospheric black metal? Or have you seen Alcest live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Onyx [intro]
2. Kodama
3. Je Suis D’Ailleurs
4. Ecailles De Lune – Part 2
5. Autre Temps
6. Oiseaux De Proie
7. Eclosion
8. Souvenirs D’un Autre Monde
9. Sur L’Ocean Couleur De Fer
10. La Ou Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles
11. Deliverance
12. Percees De Lumiere [encore]

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