First Fragment was founded in 2007 by Phil Tougas (Chthe’ilist, Atramentus, Funebrarum) & brothers Gabriel Brault-Pilon and David AB. From day one, the trio sought to create a brand of extreme technical death metal that combined counterpoint-based riffing, neoclassical lead guitar work, power metal-inspired passages as well as flamenco & swing sections in a desire to branch out and establish their own unique voice in the Quebec scene.
Their critically-acclaimed 2016 debut album “Dasein” released through Unique Leader built upon the foundation established with the band’s notorious EP “The Afterthought Ecstasy”, self-released in 2010. Dasein was the culmination of almost 10 years of hard work and dedication to their craft. First Fragment have since honed their craft and perfected their sound through expanding upon their extensive musical influences, further blurring the line between flamenco-inspired technical death metal and neoclassical power metal.
The result is “Gloire Éternelle” – an ambitious conceptual album that is unmistakably First Fragment, yet at the same time, impossible to categorize and pigeonhole. Boasting baroque-influenced guitar counterpoint, flamenco sections, unique slap-bass-driven swing grooves (which the band trademarked by name as “swingdowns”), dual vocals, face-ripping lead guitar work and bombastic drumming, the end result can be described as an ultimate shred-fest filled to the brim with passion, conviction and memorability.
