Écailles De Lune
Écailles De Lune finds much of its strength in the distance between its gentlest and most forceful music. Alcest use soft singing and flowing guitar lines to create a sense of calm, then disturb it with distorted chords, faster drums and harsh vocals. The changes give the record a character that goes beyond either side of its sound.
The two-part title piece makes the strongest case for that approach. Part I develops an atmospheric guitar idea through layers of melody and repetition. Neige's voice sits inside the arrangement, helping the music grow without pushing it towards a conventional chorus. The heavier final stretch feels connected to everything that prepares it.
Part II brings the black metal influence further forward. Shrieks and active drums give the earlier calm a rougher edge, before a much quieter passage changes the setting again. The return to clean guitar and softer singing is especially effective because the heavier music has made the contrast matter.
Percées De Lumière keeps that balance within a more direct song. Its repeating guitar melody and energetic rhythm give the harsher vocals a firm shape. When the intensity falls, the melodic playing has room to expand. The song holds attention through changes of texture rather than a constant supply of new riffs.
The second half takes a gentler route. Abysses is a short atmospheric interruption, while Solar Song puts layered clean vocals at the centre. These passages are attractive, but the writing is less gripping than the opening sequence. The quieter material sometimes depends on the beauty of the sound to carry ideas that develop only gradually.
Sur L'océan Couleur De Fer offers a more convincing use of that patience. Its restrained guitar setting and soft voice create an effective ending without trying to match the earlier force. Repetition becomes part of the mood, although listeners looking for quick changes may find the pace demanding.
The album is uneven, with its largest achievements concentrated near the beginning. Even so, the title piece and the careful relationship between harshness and melody give Écailles De Lune a lasting appeal. Its strongest moments make a familiar quiet-to-loud movement feel emotionally substantial.
