Écailles de lune
Alcest · 2010
41 min · 6 tracks · black metal
Ethereal melodies intertwine with crushing riffs, enveloping listeners in a dreamlike soundscape that transcends traditional black metal boundaries.
Top tracks — play these first
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Écailles de lune – Part 1 — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its expansive soundscapes and haunting vocals, encapsulating the essence of Alcest's signature style.
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Solar Song — With its uplifting melodies and intricate guitar work, this track exemplifies the band's ability to create beauty within heaviness, resonating powerfully with listeners.
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Sur l’océan couleur de fer — This song showcases Alcest's dynamic range, transitioning from serene passages to intense climaxes that evoke a sense of vastness and introspection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively merges black metal and shoegaze, creating a unique sound that rewards repeated listens.
What we noticed
- Ethereal guitar melodies are layered over heavy, distorted riffs, blending the characteristics of black metal with shoegaze elements.
- The use of atmospheric interludes between heavier sections allows for dynamic shifts in intensity throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- gradual builds and payoffs
- atmospheric background focus
- dynamic emotional journeys
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Écailles de lune is Alcest's second album, following their acclaimed debut Souvenirs d'un autre monde released in 2007. By this point, the band had solidified their unique fusion of black metal and shoegaze, garnering a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim for their atmospheric sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Les Discrets· Agalloch· Deafheaven
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Solar Song
A pivotal section shifts from reflective introspection to an exhilarating proclamation of hope and renewal.
This transition not only alters the emotional trajectory of the song but also emphasizes the overarching theme of transcendence central to the album.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Écailles de lune – Part 1 9:52
- 2 Écailles de lune – Part 2 9:48
- 3 Percées de lumière 6:38
- 4 Abysses 1:40
- 5 Solar Song 5:24
- 6 Sur l’océan couleur de fer 8:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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