Music from another world.

Alcest was founded in the year 2000 by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Neige (aka. Stéphane Paut) and later joined by drummer Winterhalter (Jean Deflandre) in 2009.

Labeled as post metal/shoegaze or “blackgaze”, Alcest were the pioneers within this genre, crafting a unique sound based on musical opposites from their very first EP “Le Secret” (2005), and thru their full length releases “Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde” (2007), “Écailles De Lune” (2010) and “Les Voyages De L’Ame” (2012). In 2014 their fourth album “Shelter” was released, marking the band’s departure from the more metal sound, in favor of dream-pop aesthetics, surprising and somewhat challenging their fan base.

In retrospective, the album opened new doors for Alcest, bringing them an audience from different horizons and a positive sense of unpredictability as musicians.

Velnias exists as a an entity in opposition to this misguided and failing modern world. The music is a reflection of man’s falling and the grandeur of that which he has forsaken.

The inception of Clad in Darkness began in the winter of 1999 for guitarists John Benter and Coy Scottberg. Meeting in high school the two shared a common passion for music in general and metal especially. The idea was always to create epic far reaching soundscapes that transgressed the conventions of metal. Soon after the band would be complete with the addition of ex-Sapphist drummer Brian Rendina, with fellow members Casey Hogan handling the vocals and Chris Shive playing bass.