By Joe Kourieh

Arts & Features Editor

Alcest stands as a truly inspiring item in the world of music: the embodiment of one man’s vision, evolving and developing around a unique concept. The band is not so much a band, but the culmination of ideas brought forth from the mind of a single, truly talented musician.

That musician is Neige, a quiet young French metaller who, 12 years ago, sought to craft the sounds of a mystical fantasy world that he had dreamt of as a boy. Neige began to transcribe his memories of this “fairy world” into music, and hoped to invite listeners to journey there with him. Thus Alcest was born, and its sound has since settled as a type of ambient shoegazing (a style of progressive rock named for the artists’ tendency to adopt a timid and apathetic downward stare as they play) with an exciting touch of Black Metal asperity.

The band’s third full-length album, “Les Voyages De L’Âme,” is in fine form, with Neige sticking to his guns as far as songwriting. As in past releases, he weaves seamlessly between energetic verses and alluringly mystical interludes. The key to the quality of the music is its originality. Each song overflows with catchy riffs and melodies that really stick with you.

Although in the metal world musicians’ skills are often gauged by their speed and complexity, it is important to appreciate one who can consistently write genuine, uncomplicated material, free of gimmicks. The songs of “Les Voyages” average out to be just as captivating as those of Alcest’s remarkable 2010 release, “Écailles de Lune.”

Two of the new album’s tracks, “Là où Naissent les Couleurs Nouvelles” and “Faiseurs de Mondes,” feature Neige’s ferocious Black Metal screeches, which (to my delight) are even more raw and harsh than on the previous album. This technique is used sparingly, to great effect. By withholding this extreme metal trope for just the right moment, Neige is able to emphasize even more the band’s metal foundation, and provide a tantalizing treat for listeners who prefer the more intense genres. In fact, “Là où Naissent les Couleurs Nouvelles,” the album’s second track, does this perfectly by slowly fading the shrieks in through the background, announcing the arrival of Neige’s brutal side.

Perks like this demonstrate how, though the music itself is very simple, there is an extra level of depth added to it through excellent production value. It is easy to be absorbed into the atmospheric quality of Neige’s vocals, not only during verses, but also during seemingly instrumental sections, when he is almost constantly hovering in the background with dulcet harmonies as a perfect accent. Not only this, but the use of effects and synthesizers creates a stunning wall of sound that will truly make you feel a part of Neige’s fantasy world.

In keeping with “Écailles,” “Les Voyages” features dazzling artwork on its cover by French artist and musician Fursy Teyssier, the leader of Les Discrets, with whom Alcest has close ties. It portrays a majestic bird perched beneath a stone archway, through which radiant golden sunlight pours, silhouetting the grand creature. Once again the artwork captures the mood and tone of the album’s musical content.

One interesting and curious tidbit found on “Les Voyages” is its fifth, seventh and eighth tracks’ titles, which are in English. The first two of these are instrumental, with no lyrics, but the eighth and final track “Summer’s Glory” is still sung entirely in French. As to why these English titles are included, it is unclear. Perhaps it is Neige’s attempt at diversifying to suit an international audience. Or maybe this is a mark of pressure by the record industry to push Alcest into diversifying. Hopefully the first is true, as it would be tragic to see such a promising new musician sell out in the crux of his career.

Alcest is what I would define as a perfectly balanced band: heavy enough to satisfy even a to-the-core metalhead, but still possessing the tenderness and grace to allow for easy listening by all music lovers. “Les Voyages De L’Âme” exemplifies this style, and will have fans singing (or humming, for those who don’t speak French) along as this fresh new coterie continues to climb the ladder of the international metal underground.