Alcest Announce Two New Zealand Shows

French blackgaze duo Alcest will be winging their way to New Zealand for two shows in April. Forged in 1999 as a solo project by multi-instrumentalist Neige (aka Stephane Paut) who was joined by drummer Winterhalter in 2009, the band released their fifth album last year. Titled Kodama, the six-song concept album was heavily inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke and took more than three years to complete. Here are the details for their upcoming shows...

Alcest

Sunday 23rd April, San Fran, Wellington
Monday 24th April, Kings Arms, Whammy Bar, Auckland

Tickets available HERE at UTR, or in-store at Flying Out (Auckland) and RPM/Slow Boat (Wellington)

Stream Kodama in full below...

PRESS RELEASE:

LIFE IS NOISE PRESENTS: ALCEST (FR)

LIFE IS NOISE is ecstatic to announce the return of Alcest to Australian soil this April, with the band also venturing to New Zealand for the first time.

The French post-black metal masterminds will be reaching into the hearts and heads of audiences in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

“Alcest was one of the first black metal bands to openly bathe their music in sunlight. Kodama shows that they still know how to use the darkness.” — Brad Sanders, Bandcamp

Alcest have always been a strangely entrancing beast. Originally serving as a solo project for Neige (Stephane Paut), the outfit evolved into a creative connection between the frontman and drummer Winterhalter (of legendary Peste Noire fame) over more than 16 years.

Transcending their early black metal ties through five very different releases, their latest effort—Kodama—sees the band meticulously reframe their origins through a kaleidoscope of rich, warm and soaring sounds that connect with the very soul of the listener.

“… it takes the listener on a journey out of themselves to places they perhaps never knew existed; a place of beauty and healing.” — Metal Wani

Influenced by the gorgeous Hayao Miyasaki film, Princess Mononoke, Kodama – meaning ‘tree spirit’ or ‘echo’ in Japanese - delves into the concept of living between two worlds; of not belonging and striving to establish a sense of being through contrasting planes of existence.

Exploring the juxtaposition of nature and humanity and the perpetual struggle faced trying to achieve cohesion in a modern world, the album taps into the divide to serve as a reminder that the spiritual is often neglected in a time that embraces the physical.

“Their music’s playful contrasts help create an intelligent and heartfelt outcome that is as alien as it is familiar. Sometimes contradiction can show us our breadth of knowledge and understanding is never black and white but spectrums of colour that can bleed into each to form more complex hues.” — Louder Than War on Alcest live

Alcest live is a truly humbling experience. Their emotive power works its way through every inch of your psyche, as they effortlessly transition from darker, harsher tones to climbing, ethereal highs. This is a sonic adventure that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Catch Alcest on the following dates:

Wellington - San Fran - April 23
Auckland - Kings Arms - April 24
Brisbane - Crowbar – April 25
Sydney - Newtown Social – April 27
Melbourne – Max Watt’s – April 28
Perth –Badlands – April 29