Alcest - Les Voyages De L'Ame Review

 

   Ok so I know it's been a while since my last post and I'm sorry.  I've just been really freakin busy with school, work, home, and other junk that just is not letting think enough to do a post.  Yeah these posts aren't easy.  Not for me anyways.  So I have been thinking about what album to do a review of next.  So far this year I've gotten some great releases and are really digging a hand full of them.  It was a toss up between Les Discrets, and Alcest.  Even though they are very comparable I couldn't decide.  So I basically went and let ITunes decide for me.  I just looked and saw which album had the most plays and it was Alcest.  Doesn't mean the Les Discrets is any less of a master piece.  It just means that Alcest will come first.  So here it goes
   Alcest in case you guys don't know are a shoe gaze, black metal band from France.  I won't get into a full history of these guys but it is some of the best sonic bliss I have ever heard.  I got into the in 2010 when they released the master piece Escailles De Lune.  Which was amazing and I highly recommend checking that one out if you haven't already.  So Alcest mainly consists of two artists.  Neige who does all the vocals, guitars, bass and synths.  And Winterhalter one drums.  They have progressively moved away from the black metal influences and focused more on the sound scapes and energy flow through out the records.  I really didn't think that anything was going to be better than Escailles De Lune but boy was I wrong.  These guys really put a top notch record this year.
   Everything from the guitar tones, the vocals, bass work, and the thick drumming is just wonderful.  I really enjoy listening to this record when I want to sit down and escape the world for a while.  Or when I'm cleaning the house, or sleeping.  I could really listen to this stuff any time of the day but there's just something about having the lights down low and drifting away to some Alcest.  This record builds and releases its sounds many times through out the record.  Which is great.  Like the opening track starts off real and mellow and then just thrusts forward with a real thick distortion, and an entrancing sound that will wake up every bone in your body. The vocals have a way of sucking you in and bringing you future into the music.  Even though I can't understand a single word he says because he speaks in French.  But hey that's ok by me.  Just goes to show that the music is more moving than the words in the case for me.  Now I'm sure these guys would blow my mind in seconds if I knew what they were saying but that's me being a dumb American that can only speak English, and can bairly speak that as it is.  So maybe it's a good thing that I can't understand them.
   So if you like lush distortion, with great production, and a real passionate vocal approach Alcest is your monster.  These guys really know how to craft something special every time they release something, and I for one am very pleased with this release.  This release will definitely be in my top 20 if not in the top 10 at the end the year.  So trust me when I say this is worth the money so go out and get it today.  Get the vinyl edition the art is great.  So if I had to give this record a score it would be a solid 8.5 to light 9.  It will probably become a 9 by the end of the year for sure but for right now it's a solid 8'5.  So I will probably do Les Discrets next after doing Alcest.  It's only fair being they are really close, but yet so far apart in comparison.  Sorry this one is so short I just don't have a lot of brain power left after school.  I mean learning about Allen & Heath sound boards, and other boards for 4 hours can really take a toll.  So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.

Ok so this is the first time I've done this.  I'm posting a video review of Alcest's recrod done by Coverkiller Nation on Youtube.  If you guys don't know who this guys is go check him out and subsribe to him.  He is a metal genius, and know a great deal about metal and rock music.  I also watch The Needle Drop as well.  So go check those guys out and watch their videos.  They are great.  His review of this record was spot on so that's why I felt the need to put it here.

Top 20 of 2012 So Far

   So I was looking on a few heavy metal sights and I saw that most of them are doing a top 20 of this year now which is kind of weird but I thought it was a good idea.  We can see which ones stay and which ones go as the year progresses.  I think I'll do one each quarter as we are going into the second quarter of the year.  It's only April and there has been a lot of great releases come out already.  Last year was  a pretty good year all around for me, but I had some major upsets last year.  This year however has started off pretty strong and hasn't really let up.  There are a few that I'm not particularly happy with, but none to the degree of dislike like I had last year.  We will see how the rest of the year pans out.  I'm sure Ill find some that don't make me very happy.  There's a few every year that don't.  So here we go my top 20 for 2012 so far.  These aren't going to be in order from best to worst.  Just a list.

Sigh - In Somniaphobia

This is by far some of the most spontaneous, random black metal I have ever heard.  There are great horn sections, and I don't mean like symphony sections even though there are some symphonic sections.  I mean like sax, clarinet, trumpet type horns.  I'm not even sure the total number of instruments used on this record, but Sigh have definitely released some of the most interesting black metal I've heard in a long time.  Maybe ever really.  The guitar melodies are great, the diverse instrumentation is a wonderful counter part to the great black metal sound these guys have.  Great release




Corrosion of Conformity - COC

I really enjoyed this record the first time I listened to it.  It's good to see COC still kickin it hard after so many years of their sound evolution.  They had a real punk element in their early years, which later evolved to a more jam, southern metal, rock style.  This release to me has a little Mastodon presence to it.  I love the opening track with the vocals coming in the beginning.  Is it top 20 material?  I'm not sure yet, but we will see.





Accept - Stalingrad

Come who doesn't love Accept.  One of the great metal bands to make it out of the 80's.  These guys have been working hard to keep their sound alive, and really push through the ever changing world of metal.  We saw a miraculous return to what made Accept kick ass in 2010 with their monstrous release Blood of the Nations.  And now Stalingrad just furthers the fact that Accept are here to stay, and show now signs of slowing down for anyone.  Great release from one of my all time favorite bands.





Swallow the Sun - Emerald Forest and the Blackbird

I love Swallow the Sun.  These guys really know how to pull together many influences of death metal, and turn it into something all their own.  That sounds fresh, new and original.  As they have done so in the past, they have done here again.  There are slow, passionate, acoustic parts.  As we've heard from them before.  Then there are some of the thickest, heaviest distorted segments.  That if you aren't ready for them they might just knock you on your ass.  Great release and I will be jamming this one for a while.




Angel Witch - As Above, So Below

Some of the best classic metal I've heard in a long time.  Angel Witch are no stranger to the metal community.  They've been feeding us with their classic Sabbath, Priest, Pentagram style hits for a long time now, and still can kick out the jams as so exemplified on this release.  If you know me, you know that I favor the more classic styles of metal weather the bands be old folkes, or new guys.  If they make great old school style metal, or rock.  I love it, and this release does not disappoint by any means.




Meshuggah - Koloss

Meshuggah have done it again.  I discovered Meshuggah when they released Catch 33, and ever since then I've been a di-hard fan.  These guys have continually put great release after great release.  That really show the evolution of their very distinctive, influential style.  So many bands are trying to imitate what these guys pull off so well, and with this release show the exact reason why they are the only ones who can do well.  Great release from a great band




Napalm Death - Utilitarian

Come on its Napalm Death.  I said that about Morbid Angel last year before I heard their piece of crap Illud blah blah blah, and was really really let down with that piece of junk.  This one on the other hand is a great example why these guys are one of the greatest death metal bands of all time.  It's heavy, it's brutal, in your face, fist pumping, raw aggression, pissed off, death metal at it's finest.  Morbid Angel have lost a lot of respect from me with their release last year, but Napalm Death have come nowhere near the end for me.  I love so of their classic workings, and this release will go right up their with what makes Napalm Death one of my favorite death metal bands for sure.




Alcest - Les Voyages De L'Ame

Alcest's last release Escailles De Lune was one of my favorite records of 2010, and this one is on it's way to being the same for this year.  I can't put it down.  I listen to something else from this year, and I seem to go back to this one more than any other release right now.  It's passionate, and it's deep.  Even though I can't understand a word he says.  I feel like I can understand him.  Which I know sounds weird but it makes since to me.  The guitars are lush, and thick with melody.  That really accent the vocals, and drums very well.  I can put this one and just escape the world for a while, which sometimes that's exactly what I need.  So what better sound to do it to than Alcest. 




High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis

High On Fire have been one of my favorite bands for a while now.  I can't get enough of Matt Pike's sound.  Everything about this band screams heavy.  Even in the softer more acoustic moments you feel the need to head bang.  In 2010 Snakes For the Divine was one of my top 5 records, and this year High On Fire will be on my list somewhere for sure.  They never disappoint and I don't think they ever will.




Soen - Cognitive

Some people have called this band a Tool knock off or something along those lines.  I think while yes sounding some what like Tool in some ways.  They are so different in so many other ways.  The singer has a great voice, and yes sounds like Maynard James Keenan some what at times, but there is a lot more harmony and melodicism to the vocals here than Maynard does.  Not to say that Maynard is better or worse I love Tool.  They are by far one of my favorite bands of all time.  It's just different and that's what keeps me listening.  The drumming is of course top notch being done by ex Opeth drummer Martin Lopez.  Which everything he did for Opeth was stunning.  So naturally I'd be drawn to check this out, and I'm glad I did.  Is it top 20 material?  Sadly I don't think so for me, but I know it will be for some fans out there/  Doesn't mean it's a bad release by any means.




Goatwhore - Blood For the Master

I got into Goawhore in 2009 with their amazing release Carving Out the Eyes of God.   I now will forever love Goatwhore.  They pull influences from black metal, death metal, and thrash metal.  I call it Thrashened death metal.  Like Blackened but Thrashened.  That's mine and no one else can use it haha.  It takes off at 100 miles a minute and doesn't let up until it's over.  So if you want fast, fist pumping thrashened death metal look no further.




Astra - The Black Chord

 
This is classic rock at it's finest.  Man Last year we had some great classic releases with Graveyard's Hisingen Blues, and Rival Sons Pressure and Time which both were amazing.  Astra have released something that is pulling at the strings of best classic rock album so far for me this year.  This is stuff that my grand mother would trip out to and I really respect guys that can pull of the classic sounds in this modern digital age of music.  There's not really a single bad thing I could say about this release.  There is room to grow for sure, and I think these guys will start to rise as some of the icons of the classic styles of rock, and metal.  Along side guys like Graveyard, Witchcraft, Christian Mistress, The Gates of Slumber, and Rival Sons.  Which is fine by me. 




Soulfly - Enslaved

I've been listening to Soulfly ever since Primitive came out a long time ago.  Max Cavalera is a stapled name in heavy metal, as he deserves to be.  Starting one of the most influencial metal bands of all time, Sepultura.  Soulfly has steadily stepped away from their earlier nu-metal styling from Primitive and others ever since I feel the Dark Ages.  And have progressively gotten faster, harder, and more intense on every release.  While still sticking in some of their earlier vibes.  This release upholds to the Soulfly standard for sure for me.  I really respect Max Cavalera, and will get every one of his releases in the future no matter what.  Is this record top 20 with as much as I like Max.  It may not be because I am just really into so many other things now that it's hard to say if Soulfly can compete with all of that.





The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet

This record is just fun.  Really that's the one word I can sum this record up with is it's fun.  The opening track has an awsome electronic, synth drive that when it kicks in it really pricks my brain.  The rest of the record is just jumping all over the place from loud angry style playing, to soft mellow guitar parts.  These guys have really brought prog rock, or whatever you want to call them to a whole new level.  I remember getting Frances the Mute when it came out in 2005 and not liking it at first.  Now years later I can definitely appreciate it, and now understand the style of music that these guys do so well. 




Les Discrets - Ariettes Oubliees

Like Alcest, Les Discrets have a certain quality that can't be imitated, or duplicated what so ever.  These guys are just great musicians that really know how to mesh their thick, melodic sounds together to create a great work of art.  They share some similarities with Alcest but have a more straight foreward rock approach to their style.  They as Alcest are a French speaking band and like I said with Alcest I some how know what he's saying.  I can't explain it, but I feel a close connection when I listen to these guys as I do with Alcest.  It has to be the music because I obviously don't know what he's saying because I don't know a single word of french.  I think it would be cool to learn though.




Chrisitian Mistress - Possession

Boy is this a great record.  It's such a throw back record, and I can't get enough of it.  It's also fronted by a chick haha.  Just goes to show.  You don't have to be a dude to kick some ass.  I love the song Haunted Hunted.  The guitar riff in the beginning just gets my blood flowing, and I start to nod my head uncontrollably.  This will definitely be on my top 20 for sure at the end of the year.  I just can't put it down.  I highly recommend checking this one out for sure.  You won't be sorry.




Overkill - The Electric Age

Yet another great thrash metal band to survive the 80's.  Over Kill are by far the best under rated thrash metal band from the 80's except for maybe Sodom.  I really enjoyed Ironbound in 2010, and this one really just pushes the Over Kill drive further and further.  Great release that I highly recommend checking out, and get Ironbound as well.




Pilgrim - Misery Wizard

This record is such a great record it's almost orgasmic how good it is.  Such a great classic sound that really punches you right in the gut when you listen to this.  The opening track really gets you prepared for a great heavy ride that only Pilgrim can take you on.  So if you want a classic Sabbath homage these are your guys.  Great release from a really great band.




Dodecahedron - Dodecahedron

Great technical death metal that next to something like Obscura there really are no better crafters of the kind out there.  Do I like this more than Obscura?  I'd have to say no, but it still is a great addition to the world of technical death metal.  Or math metal whatever the hell you want to call it.  It's got great speed, technicals, heaviness, and intensity throughout the entire thing so I highly recommend checking it out.




Woods of Ypres - Woods 5

Now I saved this one for last, but it's definitely worth it.  This is Woods of Ypres, and if you haven't heard of them yet I want you to go out and at least get this record right now.  There is a Type O Negative type of quality to the vocals, with a great guitar texture that's very full and thick.  I wonder sometimes how they are getting that thick of a sound that sounds so clear and crisp at the same time.  Now the reason I saved it for last is the singer David Gold was tragically killed last year in December right before they started preparing for the release of this record.  It wouldn't be that big of a deal if it wasn't for his lyrics.  Every time someone dies from something tragic like a car accident it is upsetting, and even more when I find that I like the artist and then come to find out he just recently passed.  His lyrics though seem to be calling death at some points, and playing with it's invitation.  They are sometimes very depressing, and then motivating at others.  His voice sucks you in to every word, and leaves chills after you listen to some of the tracks on this one.  Cause it seems he had a Nostradamus thing going on and felt that his time was coming soon, and wanting to leave us with something epic, and stunningly amazing, and that's exactly what he did.  David Gold will be missed, and it sucks that I won't be able to see these guys live with David in front or at all for that matter.  He will be near impossible to replace and I wonder if the band is going to want to continue Woods anymore.  I'm sure they're not thinking about that right now.  Although he is gone, his imprint on the metal community will be felt for many years to come.  I am glad I discovered this group this year, even though I never got the opportunity to really connect with them.  I thought about doing a full review on this record, and I might still do it cause every time I listen to it I want to talk about it even more.  So we will see what happens.



So there they are the albums that I'm really happy with so far this year.  There will be many more to come in the near future, and I can't wait to see which ones stay, and which ones go.  These top lists are always a lot of fun for me, because I like seeing where they stack up to each other, even though they are all great releases, and have a lot of shining moments.  It's always fun to see which ones beat another out of the top and for what reason.  So only time will tell who stays, and who goes.  So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.