Alcest

A dynamic Fench post-metal group founded and fronted by multi-instrumentalist Neige, Alcest has covered a wide swath of sonic territory since emerging in 2000, shifting from black metal to shoegaze to post-metal, and finally to the integrated sound known as blackgaze, which they helped to pioneer. Intense melody, lush, swirling electronic textures, and sometimes screamed-sometimes cleanly sung vocals are entwined in their mixes. Early recordings showcased a band playing lo-fi, raw, melodic black metal, but by the time Neige delivered the original two-track Le Secret EP in early 2005, he was the band's only member and while the lo-fi remained, black metal had receded considerably in favor of lush melodic shoegaze.