Alcest

Alcest is a French shoegazing band/musical project (formerly a black metal band) born in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France, 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, band members Aegnor and Argoth left the band, leaving Neige as the sole member. This marked a change in style, as Alcest's subsequent releases have more often been described as shoegazing mixing numerous rock and metal influences, including black metal and post-metal. In 2009 the ex-Peste Noire's drummer Winterhalter (now in Les Discrets) joined Alcest's studio line-up, after eight years with Neige as the sole full time member. On the following tours, he was followed by the ex-Peste Noire's bass guitarist Indria and co-guitarist Zero. Since its creation, Alcest has released three studio albums.